Substituted 3&#39;,5&#39;-cyclic phosphates of purine nucleotide compounds and pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of viral infections

ABSTRACT

Provided herein are compounds, compositions and methods for the treatment of Flaviviridae infections, including HCV infections. In certain embodiments, compounds and compositions of nucleoside derivatives are disclosed, which can be administered either alone or in combination with other anti-viral agents

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of, and priority to, the followingapplications: U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/547,625filed 14 Oct. 2011 entitled Substituted 3′,5′-Cyclic Phosphates OfPurine Nucleotide Compounds And Pharmaceutical Compositions For TheTreatment Of Viral Infections; U.S. provisional patent application Ser.No. 61/555,329 filed 3 Nov. 2011 entitled Substituted 3′,5′-CyclicPhosphates Of Purine Nucleotide Compounds And PharmaceuticalCompositions For The Treatment Of Viral Infections; and U.S. provisionalpatent application Ser. No. 61/703,084 filed 19 Sep. 2012 entitledSubstituted 3′,5′-Cyclic Phosphates Of Purine Nucleotide Compounds AndPharmaceutical Compositions For The Treatment Of Viral Infections; eachof which is incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

Provided herein are compounds, methods and pharmaceutical compositionsfor use in treatment of viral infections, including hepatitis C virusinfections in hosts in need thereof. In certain embodiments, substituted3′,5′-cyclic phosphate purine nucleotides are provided which displayremarkable efficacy and bioavailability for the treatment of, forexample, HCV infection in a human.

BACKGROUND

Flaviviridae Viruses

The Flaviviridae family of viruses comprises at least three distinctgenera: pestiviruses, which cause disease in cattle and pigs;Flaviviruses, which are the primary cause of diseases such as denguefever and yellow fever; and hepaciviruses, whose sole member is HCV. Theflavivirus genus includes more than 68 members separated into groups onthe basis of serological relatedness (Calisher et al., J. Gen. Virol,1993, 70, 37-43). Clinical symptoms vary and include fever, encephalitisand hemorrhagic fever (Fields Virology, Editors: Fields, B. N., Knipe,D. M., and Howley, P. M., Lippincott-Raven Publishers, Philadelphia,Pa., 1996, Chapter 31, 931-959). Flaviviruses of global concern that areassociated with human disease include the dengue hemorrhagic feverviruses (DHF), yellow fever virus, shock syndrome and Japaneseencephalitis virus (Halstead, S. B., Rev. Infect. Dis., 1984, 6,251-264; Halstead, S. B., Science, 239:476-481, 1988; Monath, T. P., NewEng. J. Med., 1988, 319, 641-643).

The pestivirus genus includes bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV),classical swine fever virus (CSFV, also called hog cholera virus) andborder disease virus (BDV) of sheep (Moennig, V. et al., Adv. Vir. Res.1992, 41, 53-98). Pestivirus infections of domesticated livestock(cattle, pigs and sheep) cause significant economic losses worldwide.BVDV causes mucosal disease in cattle and is of significant economicimportance to the livestock industry (Meyers, G. and Thiel, H.-J.,Advances in Virus Research, 1996, 47, 53-118; Moennig V., et al, Adv.Vir. Res. 1992, 41, 53-98). Human pestiviruses have not been asextensively characterized as the animal pestiviruses. However,serological surveys indicate considerable pestivirus exposure in humans.

Pestiviruses and hepaciviruses are closely related virus groups withinthe Flaviviridae family. Other closely related viruses in this familyinclude the GB virus A, GB virus A-like agents, GB virus-B and GBvirus-C (also called hepatitis G virus, HGV). The hepacivirus group(hepatitis C virus; HCV) consists of a number of closely related butgenotypically distinguishable viruses that infect humans. There areapproximately 6 HCV genotypes and more than 50 subtypes. Due to thesimilarities between pestiviruses and hepaciviruses, combined with thepoor ability of hepaciviruses to grow efficiently in cell culture,bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is often used as a surrogate to studythe HCV virus.

The genetic organization of pestiviruses and hepaciviruses is verysimilar. These positive stranded RNA viruses possess a single large openreading frame (ORF) encoding all the viral proteins necessary for virusreplication. These proteins are expressed as a polyprotein that is co-and post-translationally processed by both cellular and virus-encodedproteinases to yield the mature viral proteins. The viral proteinsresponsible for the replication of the viral genome RNA are locatedwithin the carboxy-terminal portion of the polyprotein. Two-thirds ofthe ORF are termed nonstructural (NS) proteins. The genetic organizationand polyprotein processing of the nonstructural protein portion of theORF for pestiviruses and hepaciviruses is very similar. For both thepestiviruses and hepaciviruses, the mature nonstructural (NS) proteins,in sequential order from the amino-terminus of the nonstructural proteincoding region to the carboxy-terminus of the ORF, consist of p7, NS2,NS3, NS4A, NS4B, NS5A, and NS5B.

The NS proteins of pestiviruses and hepaciviruses share sequence domainsthat are characteristic of specific protein functions. For example, theNS3 proteins of viruses in both groups possess amino acid sequencemotifs characteristic of serine proteinases and of helicases (Gorbalenyaet al., (1988) Nature 333:22; Bazan and Fletterick (1989) Virology171:637-639; Gorbalenya et al., (1989) Nucleic Acid Res. 17.3889-3897).Similarly, the NS5B proteins of pestiviruses and hepaciviruses have themotifs characteristic of RNA-directed RNA polymerases (Koonin, E. V. andDolja, V. V. (1993) Crit. Rev. Biochem. Molec. Biol. 28:375-430).

The actual roles and functions of the NS proteins of pestiviruses andhepaciviruses in the lifecycle of the viruses are directly analogous. Inboth cases, the NS3 serine proteinase is responsible for all proteolyticprocessing of polyprotein precursors downstream of its position in theORF (Wiskerchen and Collett (1991) Virology 184:341-350; Bartenschlageret al., (1993) J. Virol. 67:3835-3844; Eckart et al., (1993) Biochem.Biophys. Res. Comm. 192:399-406; Grakoui et al., (1993) J. Virol.67:2832-2843; Grakoui et al., (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA90:10583-10587; Hijikata et al., (1993) J. Virol. 67:4665-4675; Tome etal., (1993) J. Virol. 67:4017-4026). The NS4A protein, in both cases,acts as a cofactor with the NS3 serine protease (Bartenschlager et al.,(1994) J. Virol. 68:5045-5055; Fulla et al., (1994) J. Virol. 68:3753-3760; Lin et al., (1994) 68:8147-8157; Xu et al., (1997) J. Virol.71:5312-5322). The NS3 protein of both viruses also functions as ahelicase (Kim et al., (1995) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 215: 160-166;Jin and Peterson (1995) Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 323:47-53; Warrener andCollett (1995) J. Virol. 69:1720-1726). Finally, the NS5B proteins ofpestiviruses and hepaciviruses have the predicted RNA-directed RNApolymerases activity (Behrens et al. (1996) EMBO J. 15:12-22; Lechmannet al. (1997) J. Virol. 71:8416-8428; Yuan et al. (1997) Biochem.Biophys. Res. Comm. 232:231-235; Hagedorn, PCT WO 97/12033; U.S. Pat.Nos. 5,981,247; 6,248,589 and 6,461,845; Zhong et al. (1998) J. Virol.72.9365-9369).

Hepatitis C Virus

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the leading cause of chronic liverdisease worldwide. (Boyer, N. et al., J. Hepatol. 32:98-112, 2000). HCVcauses a slow growing viral infection and is the major cause ofcirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (Di Besceglie, A. M. and Bacon,B. R., Scientific American, October: 80-85, (1999); Boyer, N. et al., J.Hepatol. 32:98-112, 2000). An estimated 170 million persons are infectedwith HCV worldwide. (Boyer, N. et al., J. Hepatol. 32:98-112, 2000).Cirrhosis caused by chronic hepatitis C infection accounts for8,000-12,000 deaths per year in the United States, and HCV infection isthe leading indication for liver transplantation.

HCV is known to cause at least 80% of posttransfusion hepatitis and asubstantial proportion of sporadic acute hepatitis. Preliminary evidencealso implicates HCV in many cases of “idiopathic” chronic hepatitis,“cryptogenic” cirrhosis, and probably hepatocellular carcinoma unrelatedto other hepatitis viruses, such as Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). A smallproportion of healthy persons appear to be chronic HCV carriers, varyingwith geography and other epidemiological factors. The numbers maysubstantially exceed those for HBV, though information is stillpreliminary; how many of these persons have subclinical chronic liverdisease is unclear. (The Merck Manual, ch. 69, p. 901, 16th ed.,(1992)).

HCV is an enveloped virus containing a positive-sense single-strandedRNA genome of approximately 9.4 kb. The viral genome consists of a 5′untranslated region (UTR), a long open reading frame encoding apolyprotein precursor of approximately 3011 amino acids, and a short 3′UTR. The 5′ UTR is the most highly conserved part of the HCV genome andis important for the initiation and control of polyprotein translation.Translation of the HCV genome is initiated by a cap-independentmechanism known as internal ribosome entry. This mechanism involves thebinding of ribosomes to an RNA sequence known as the internal ribosomeentry site (IRES). An RNA pseudoknot structure has recently beendetermined to be an essential structural element of the HCV IRES. Viralstructural proteins include a nucleocapsid core protein (C) and twoenvelope glycoproteins, E1 and E2. HCV also encodes two proteinases, azinc-dependent metalloproteinase encoded by the NS2-NS3 region and aserine proteinase encoded in the NS3 region. These proteinases arerequired for cleavage of specific regions of the precursor polyproteininto mature peptides. The carboxyl half of nonstructural protein 5,NS5B, contains the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. The functions of theremaining nonstructural proteins, NS4A and NS4B, and that of NS5A (theamino-terminal half of nonstructural protein 5) are the subjects ofon-going study. NS4A is believed to be a cofactor and enhancer of theprotease NS3. NS4B is believed to organize the HCV replication complexalong with NS5B by interactions with lipid membranes forming amembranous web. NS5A appears to have multiple functions in the HCV lifecycle.

An essential step in the mode of action of purine and pyrimidinenucleosides against viral diseases, and in particular, HCV is theirmetabolic activation by cellular kinases, to yield mono-, di- andtriphosphate derivatives. The biologically active species of manynucleosides is the triphosphate form, which inhibits viral DNApolymerase, RNA polymerase, or reverse transcriptase, or causes chaintermination.

A significant focus of current antiviral research is directed to thedevelopment of improved methods of treatment of chronic HCV infectionsin humans (Di Besceglie, A. M. and Bacon, B. R., Scientific American,October: 80-85, (1999)).

In light of the fact that HCV infection has reached epidemic levelsworldwide, and has tragic effects on the infected patient, there remainsa strong need to provide new effective pharmaceutical agents to treathepatitis C that have low toxicity to the host. Further, given therising threat of other flaviviridae infections, there remains a strongneed to provide new effective pharmaceutical agents that have lowtoxicity to the host.

Therefore, there is a continuing need for effective treatments offlavivirus infections and HCV infections.

SUMMARY

Provided herein are compounds useful, for example, for the treatment offlavivirus infections such as HCV infections. The compounds aresubstituted 3′,5′-cyclic phosphate purine nucleotides. In certainembodiments the substituted 3′,5′-cyclic phosphate purine nucleotidesdisplay remarkable efficacy or bioavailability, or both, for thetreatment of, for example, HCV infection in a human.

In certain embodiments, the compounds provided herein are useful in theprevention and treatment of Flaviviridae infections and other relatedconditions such as anti-Flaviviridae antibody positive andFlaviviridae-positive conditions, chronic liver inflammation caused byHCV, cirrhosis, fibrosis, acute hepatitis, fulminant hepatitis, chronicpersistent hepatitis, and fatigue. These compounds or formulations canalso be used prophylactically to prevent or retard the progression ofclinical illness in individuals who are anti-Flaviviridae antibody orFlaviviridae-antigen positive or who have been exposed to aFlaviviridae. In particular embodiments, the Flaviviridae is hepatitisC. In certain embodiments, the compounds are used to treat any virusthat replicates through an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase.

A method for the treatment of a Flaviviridae infection in a host,including a human, is also provided that includes administering aneffective amount of a compound provided herein, administered eitheralone or in combination or alternation with another anti-Flaviviridaeagent, optionally in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

In certain embodiments, provided herein are compounds according toFormula I:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, stereoisomeric form,tautomeric form or polymorphic form thereof, wherein R¹ is lower alkylor hydrogen and R² is lower alkyl.

In one aspect, the compounds provided herein are provided oradministered in combination with a second therapeutic agent, such as oneuseful for the treatment or prevention of HCV infections. Exemplarysecond therapeutic agents are provided in detail elsewhere herein.

In another aspect, provided herein are pharmaceutical compositions,single unit dosage forms, and kits suitable for use in treating orpreventing disorders such as HCV infections which comprise atherapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of a compoundprovided herein, e.g., of Formula I, and a therapeutically orprophylactically effective amount of a second therapeutic agent such asone useful for the treatment or prevention of HCV infections.

In certain embodiments, a method of treatment of a liver disorder isprovided comprising administering to an individual in need thereof atreatment effective amount of a substituted 3′,5′-cyclic phosphatepurine nucleotide compound.

Flaviviridae which can be treated are, e.g., discussed generally inFields Virology, Editors: Fields, B. N., Knipe, D. M., and Howley, P.M., Lippincott-Raven Publishers, Philadelphia, Pa., Chapter 31, 1996. Ina particular embodiment of the invention, the Flaviviridae is HCV. In analternate embodiment, the Flaviviridae is a flavivirus or pestivirus.Specific flaviviruses include, without limitation: Absettarov, Alfuy,Apoi, Aroa, Bagaza, Banzi, Bouboui, Bussuquara, Cacipacore, CareyIsland, Dakar bat, Dengue 1, Dengue 2, Dengue 3, Dengue 4, Edge Hill,Entebbe bat, Gadgets Gully, Hanzalova, Hypr, Ilheus, Israel turkeymeningoencephalitis, Japanese encephalitis, Jugra, Jutiapa, Kadam,Karshi, Kedougou, Kokobera, Koutango, Kumlinge, Kunjin, Kyasanur Forestdisease, Langat, Louping ill, Meaban, Modoc, Montana myotisleukoencephalitis, Murray valley encephalitis, Naranj al, Negishi,Ntaya, Omsk hemorrhagic fever, Phnom-Penh bat, Powassan, Rio Bravo,Rocio, Royal Farm, Russian spring-summer encephalitis, Saboya, St. Louisencephalitis, Sal Vieja, San Perlita, Saumarez Reef, Sepik, Sokuluk,Spondweni, Stratford, Tembusu, Tyuleniy, Uganda S, Usutu, Wesselsbron,West Nile, Yaounde, Yellow fever, and Zika.

Pestiviruses which can be treated are discussed generally in FieldsVirology, Editors: Fields, B. N., Knipe, D. M., and Howley, P. M.,Lippincott-Raven Publishers, Philadelphia, Pa., Chapter 33, 1996.Specific pestiviruses include, without limitation: bovine viral diarrheavirus (“BVDV”), classical swine fever virus (“CSFV,” also called hogcholera virus), and border disease virus (“BDV”).

In certain embodiments, provided herein are compounds according to anyof Formulas I, Ia, Ib, II, IIa or IIb for use in therapy. In certainembodiments, provided herein are compounds according to any of FormulasI, Ia, Ib, II, IIa or IIb for use as a medicament. In certainembodiments, provided herein are compounds according to any of FormulasI, Ia, Ib, II, IIa or IIb for the treatment of HCV infections. Incertain embodiments, provided herein are compounds according to any ofFormulas I, Ia, Ib, II, IIa or IIb for use in the treatment of HCVinfections. In certain embodiments, use of compounds according to any ofFormulas I, Ia, Ib, II, IIa or IIb is provided for the manufacture of amedicament for the treatment of HCV infections.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Provided herein are compounds, compositions and methods useful fortreating liver disorders such as HCV infection in a subject. Furtherprovided are dosage forms useful for such methods.

Definitions

When referring to the compounds provided herein, the following termshave the following meanings unless indicated otherwise. Unless definedotherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the samemeaning as is commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.In the event that there is a plurality of definitions for a term herein,those in this section prevail unless stated otherwise.

The term “alkyl”, as used herein, unless otherwise specified, refers toa saturated straight or branched hydrocarbon. In certain embodiments,the alkyl group is a primary, secondary, or tertiary hydrocarbon. Incertain embodiments, the alkyl group includes one to ten carbon atoms,i.e., C₁ to C₁₀ alkyl. In certain embodiments, the alkyl group isselected from the group consisting of methyl, CF₃, CCl₃, CFCl₂, CF₂Cl,ethyl, CH₂CF₃, CF₂CF₃, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, secbutyl,t-butyl, pentyl, isopentyl, neopentyl, hexyl, isohexyl, 3-methylpentyl,2,2-dimethylbutyl, and 2,3-dimethylbutyl. The term includes bothsubstituted and unsubstituted alkyl groups, including halogenated alkylgroups. In certain embodiments, the alkyl group is a fluorinated alkylgroup. Non-limiting examples of moieties with which the alkyl group canbe substituted are selected from the group consisting of halogen(fluoro, chloro, bromo or iodo), hydroxyl, amino, alkylamino, arylamino,alkoxy, aryloxy, nitro, cyano, sulfonic acid, sulfate, phosphonic acid,phosphate, or phosphonate, either unprotected, or protected asnecessary, as known to those skilled in the art, for example, as taughtin Greene, et al., Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, John Wileyand Sons, Second Edition, 1991, hereby incorporated by reference.

The term “lower alkyl”, as used herein, and unless otherwise specified,refers to a saturated straight or branched hydrocarbon having one to sixcarbon atoms, i.e., C₁ to C₆ alkyl. In certain embodiments, the loweralkyl group is a primary, secondary, or tertiary hydrocarbon. The termincludes both substituted and unsubstituted moieties.

The term “cycloalkyl”, as used herein, unless otherwise specified,refers to a saturated cyclic hydrocarbon. In certain embodiments, thecycloalkyl group may be a saturated, and/or bridged, and/or non-bridged,and/or a fused bicyclic group. In certain embodiments, the cycloalkylgroup includes three to ten carbon atoms, i.e., C₃ to C₁₀ cycloalkyl. Insome embodiments, the cycloalkyl has from 3 to 15 (C₃₋₁₅), from 3 to 10(C₃₋₁₀), or from 3 to 7 (C₃₋₇ carbon atoms. In certain embodiments, thecycloalkyl group is cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl,cyclohexylmethyl, cycloheptyl, bicyclo[2.1.1]hexyl,bicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl, decalinyl, or adamantyl.

The term “cycloalkenyl”, as used herein, unless otherwise specified,refers to an unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbon. In certain embodiments,cycloalkenyl refers to mono- or multicyclic ring systems that include atleast one double bond. In certain embodiments, the cycloalkenyl groupmay be a bridged, non-bridged, and/or a fused bicyclic group. In certainembodiments, the cycloalkyl group includes three to ten carbon atoms,i.e., C₃ to C₁₀ cycloalkyl. In some embodiments, the cycloalkenyl hasfrom 3 to 7 (C₃₋₁₀), or from 4 to 7 (C₃₋₇) carbon atoms.

“Alkylene” refers to divalent saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon groupsparticularly having from one to eleven carbon atoms which can bestraight-chained or branched. In certain embodiments, the alkylene groupcontains 1 to 6 carbon atoms. The term includes both substituted andunsubstituted moieties. This term is exemplified by groups such asmethylene (—CH₂—), ethylene (—CH₂CH₂—), the propylene isomers (e.g.,—CH₂CH₂CH₂— and —CH(CH₃)CH₂—) and the like.

“Alkenyl” refers to monovalent olefinically unsaturated hydrocarbongroups, in certain embodiment, having up to about 11 carbon atoms, from2 to 8 carbon atoms, or from 2 to 6 carbon atoms, which can bestraight-chained or branched and having at least 1 or from 1 to 2 sitesof olefinic unsaturation. The term includes both substituted andunsubstituted moieties. Exemplary alkenyl groups include ethenyl (i.e.,vinyl, or —CH═CH₂), n-propenyl (—CH₂CH═CH₂), isopropenyl (—C(CH₃)═CH₂),and the like.

“Alkenylene” refers to divalent olefinically unsaturated hydrocarbongroups, in certain embodiments, having up to about 11 carbon atoms orfrom 2 to 6 carbon atoms which can be straight-chained or branched andhaving at least 1 or from 1 to 2 sites of olefinic unsaturation. Thisterm is exemplified by groups such as ethenylene (—CH═CH—), thepropenylene isomers (e.g., —CH═CHCH₂— and —C(CH₃)═CH— and —CH═C(CH₃)—)and the like.

“Alkynyl” refers to acetylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon groups, incertain embodiments, having up to about 11 carbon atoms or from 2 to 6carbon atoms which can be straight-chained or branched and having atleast 1 or from 1 to 2 sites of alkynyl unsaturation. Non-limitingexamples of alkynyl groups include acetylenic, ethynyl (—C≡CH),propargyl (—CH₂C≡CH), and the like.

The term “aryl”, as used herein, and unless otherwise specified, refersto phenyl, biphenyl, or naphthyl. The term includes both substituted andunsubstituted moieties. An aryl group can be substituted with anydescribed moiety, including, but not limited to, one or more moietiesselected from the group consisting of halogen (fluoro, chloro, bromo oriodo), alkyl, haloalkyl, hydroxyl, amino, alkylamino, arylamino, alkoxy,aryloxy, nitro, cyano, sulfonic acid, sulfate, phosphonic acid,phosphate, or phosphonate, either unprotected, or protected asnecessary, as known to those skilled in the art, for example, as taughtin Greene, et al., Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, John Wileyand Sons, Second Edition, 1991.

“Alkoxy” refers to the group —OR′ where R′ is alkyl or cycloalkyl.Alkoxy groups include, by way of example, methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy,isopropoxy, n-butoxy, tert-butoxy, sec-butoxy, n-pentoxy, n-hexoxy,1,2-dimethylbutoxy, and the like.

“Alkoxycarbonyl” refers to a radical —C(O)-alkoxy where alkoxy is asdefined herein.

“Amino” refers to the radical —NH₂.

“Carboxyl” or “carboxy” refers to the radical —C(O)OH.

The term “alkylamino” or “arylamino” refers to an amino group that hasone or two alkyl or aryl substituents, respectively. In certainembodiments, the alkyl substituent is lower alkyl. In anotherembodiment, the alkyl or lower alkyl is unsubstituted.

“Halogen” or “halo” refers to chloro, bromo, fluoro or iodo.

“Monoalkylamino” refers to the group alkyl-NR′—, wherein R′ is selectedfrom hydrogen and alkyl or cycloalkyl.

“Thioalkoxy” refers to the group —SR′ where R′ is alkyl or cycloalkyl.

The term “heterocyclyl” or “heterocyclic” refers to a monovalentmonocyclic non-aromatic ring system and/or multicyclic ring system thatcontains at least one non-aromatic ring, wherein one or more of thenon-aromatic ring atoms are heteroatoms independently selected from O,S, or N; and the remaining ring atoms are carbon atoms. In certainembodiments, the heterocyclyl or heterocyclic group has from 3 to 20,from 3 to 15, from 3 to 10, from 3 to 8, from 4 to 7, or from 5 to 6ring atoms. Heterocyclyl groups are bonded to the rest of the moleculethrough the non-aromatic ring. In certain embodiments, the heterocyclylis a monocyclic, bicyclic, tricyclic, or tetracyclic ring system, whichmay include a fused or bridged ring system, and in which the nitrogen orsulfur atoms may be optionally oxidized, the nitrogen atoms may beoptionally quaternized, and some rings may be partially or fullysaturated, or aromatic. The heterocyclyl may be attached to the mainstructure at any heteroatom or carbon atom which results in the creationof a stable compound. Examples of such heterocyclic radicals include,but are not limited to, azepinyl, benzodioxanyl, benzodioxolyl,benzofuranonyl, benzopyranonyl, benzopyranyl, benzotetrahydrofuranyl,benzotetrahydrothienyl, benzothiopyranyl, benzoxazinyl, β-carbolinyl,chromanyl, chromonyl, cinnolinyl, coumarinyl, decahydroisoquinolinyl,dihydrobenzisothiazinyl, dihydrobenzisoxazinyl, dihydrofuryl,dihydroisoindolyl, dihydropyranyl, dihydropyrazolyl, dihydropyrazinyl,dihydropyridinyl, dihydropyrimidinyl, dihydropyrrolyl, dioxolanyl,1,4-dithianyl, furanonyl, imidazolidinyl, imidazolinyl, indolinyl,isobenzotetrahydrofuranyl, isobenzotetrahydrothienyl, isochromanyl,isocoumarinyl, isoindolinyl, isothiazolidinyl, isoxazolidinyl,morpholinyl, octahydroindolyl, octahydroisoindolyl, oxazolidinonyl,oxazolidinyl, oxiranyl, piperazinyl, piperidinyl, 4-piperidonyl,pyrazolidinyl, pyrazolinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrrolinyl, quinuclidinyl,tetrahydrofuryl, tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, tetrahydropyranyl,tetrahydrothienyl, thiamorpholinyl, thiazolidinyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl,and 1,3,5-trithianyl. In certain embodiments, heterocyclic may also beoptionally substituted as described herein.

The term “heteroaryl” refers to refers to a monovalent monocyclicaromatic group and/or multicyclic aromatic group that contain at leastone aromatic ring, wherein at least one aromatic ring contains one ormore heteroatoms independently selected from O, S, and N in the ring.Heteroaryl groups are bonded to the rest of the molecule through thearomatic ring. Each ring of a heteroaryl group can contain one or two Oatoms, one or two S atoms, and/or one to four N atoms, provided that thetotal number of heteroatoms in each ring is four or less and each ringcontains at least one carbon atom. In certain embodiments, theheteroaryl has from 5 to 20, from 5 to 15, or from 5 to 10 ring atoms.Examples of monocyclic heteroaryl groups include, but are not limitedto, furanyl, imidazolyl, isothiazolyl, isoxazolyl, oxadiazolyl,oxadiazolyl, oxazolyl, pyrazinyl, pyrazolyl, pyridazinyl, pyridyl,pyrimidinyl, pyrrolyl, thiadiazolyl, thiazolyl, thienyl, tetrazolyl,triazinyl, and triazolyl. Examples of bicyclic heteroaryl groupsinclude, but are not limited to, benzofuranyl, benzimidazolyl,benzoisoxazolyl, benzopyranyl, benzothiadiazolyl, benzothiazolyl,benzothienyl, benzotriazolyl, benzoxazolyl, furopyridyl,imidazopyridinyl, imidazothiazolyl, indolizinyl, indolyl, indazolyl,isobenzofuranyl, isobenzothienyl, isoindolyl, isoquinolinyl,isothiazolyl, naphthyridinyl, oxazolopyridinyl, phthalazinyl,pteridinyl, purinyl, pyridopyridyl, pyrrolopyridyl, quinolinyl,quinoxalinyl, quinazolinyl, thiadiazolopyrimidyl, and thienopyridyl.Examples of tricyclic heteroaryl groups include, but are not limited to,acridinyl, benzindolyl, carbazolyl, dibenzofuranyl, perimidinyl,phenanthrolinyl, phenanthridinyl, phenarsazinyl, phenazinyl,phenothiazinyl, phenoxazinyl, and xanthenyl. In certain embodiments,heteroaryl may also be optionally substituted as described herein.

The term “alkylaryl” refers to an aryl group with an alkyl substituent.The term “aralkyl” or “arylalkyl” includes an alkyl group with an arylsubstituent.

The term “alkylheterocyclyl” refers to a heterocyclyl group with analkyl substituent. The term alkylheterocyclyl includes an alkyl groupwith a heterocyclyl substituent.

The term “alkylheteroaryl” refers to a heteroaryl group with an alkylsubstituent. The term alkylheteroaryl includes an alkyl group with aheteroaryl substituent.

The term “protecting group” as used herein and unless otherwise definedrefers to a group that is added to an oxygen, nitrogen, or phosphorusatom to prevent its further reaction or for other purposes. A widevariety of oxygen and nitrogen protecting groups are known to thoseskilled in the art of organic synthesis.

“Pharmaceutically acceptable salt” refers to any salt of a compoundprovided herein which retains its biological properties and which is nottoxic or otherwise undesirable for pharmaceutical use. Such salts may bederived from a variety of organic and inorganic counter-ions well knownin the art. Such salts include, but are not limited to: (1) acidaddition salts formed with organic or inorganic acids such ashydrochloric, hydrobromic, sulfuric, nitric, phosphoric, sulfamic,acetic, trifluoroacetic, trichloroacetic, propionic, hexanoic,cyclopentylpropionic, glycolic, glutaric, pyruvic, lactic, malonic,succinic, sorbic, ascorbic, malic, maleic, fumaric, tartaric, citric,benzoic, 3-(4-hydroxybenzoyl)benzoic, picric, cinnamic, mandelic,phthalic, lauric, methanesulfonic, ethanesulfonic,1,2-ethane-disulfonic, 2-hydroxyethanesulfonic, benzenesulfonic,4-chlorobenzenesulfonic, 2-naphthalenesulfonic, 4-toluenesulfonic,camphoric, camphorsulfonic,4-methylbicyclo[2.2.2]-oct-2-ene-1-carboxylic, glucoheptonic,3-phenylpropionic, trimethylacetic, tert-butylacetic, lauryl sulfuric,gluconic, benzoic, glutamic, hydroxynaphthoic, salicylic, stearic,cyclohexylsulfamic, quinic, muconic acid and the like acids; or (2)salts formed when an acidic proton present in the parent compound either(a) is replaced by a metal ion, e.g., an alkali metal ion, an alkalineearth ion or an aluminum ion, or alkali metal or alkaline earth metalhydroxides, such as sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, aluminum,lithium, zinc, and barium hydroxide, ammonia or (b) coordinates with anorganic base, such as aliphatic, alicyclic, or aromatic organic amines,such as ammonia, methylamine, dimethylamine, diethylamine, picoline,ethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, ethylenediamine, lysine,arginine, ornithine, choline, N,N′-dibenzylethylene-diamine,chloroprocaine, diethanolamine, procaine, N-benzylphenethylamine,N-methylglucamine piperazine, tris(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane,tetramethylammonium hydroxide, and the like.

Pharmaceutically acceptable salts further include, by way of exampleonly and without limitation, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium,ammonium, tetraalkylammonium and the like, and when the compoundcontains a basic functionality, salts of non-toxic organic or inorganicacids, such as hydrohalides, e.g. hydrochloride and hydrobromide,sulfate, phosphate, sulfamate, nitrate, acetate, trifluoroacetate,trichloroacetate, propionate, hexanoate, cyclopentylpropionate,glycolate, glutarate, pyruvate, lactate, malonate, succinate, sorbate,ascorbate, malate, maleate, fumarate, tartarate, citrate, benzoate,3-(4-hydroxybenzoyl)benzoate, picrate, cinnamate, mandelate, phthalate,laurate, methanesulfonate (mesylate), ethanesulfonate,1,2-ethane-disulfonate, 2-hydroxyethanesulfonate, benzenesulfonate(besylate), 4-chlorobenzenesulfonate, 2-naphthalenesulfonate,4-toluenesulfonate, camphorate, camphorsulfonate,4-methylbicyclo[2.2.2]-oct-2-ene-1-carboxylate, glucoheptonate,3-phenylpropionate, trimethylacetate, tert-butylacetate, lauryl sulfate,gluconate, benzoate, glutamate, hydroxynaphthoate, salicylate, stearate,cyclohexylsulfamate, quinate, muconate and the like.

The term “purine” or “pyrimidine” base refers to, but is not limited to,adenine, N⁶-alkylpurines, N⁶-acylpurines (wherein acyl is C(O)(alkyl,aryl, alkylaryl, or arylalkyl), N⁶-benzylpurine, N⁶-halopurine,N⁶-vinylpurine, N⁶-acetylenic purine, N⁶-acyl purine, N⁶-hydroxyalkylpurine, N⁶-alkylaminopurine, N⁶-thioalkyl purine, N²-alkylpurines,N²-alkyl-6-thiopurines, thymine, cytosine, 5-fluorocytosine,5-methylcytosine, 6-azapyrimidine, including 6-azacytosine, 2- and/or4-mercaptopyrmidine, uracil, 5-halouracil, including 5-fluorouracil,C⁵-alkylpyrimidines, C⁵-benzylpyrimidines, C⁵-halopyrimidines,C⁵-vinylpyrimidine, C⁵-acetylenic pyrimidine, C⁵-acyl pyrimidine,C⁵-hydroxyalkyl purine, C⁵-amidopyrimidine, C⁵-cyanopyrimidine,C⁵-iodopyrimidine, C⁶-iodo-pyrimidine, C⁵—Br-vinyl pyrimidine,C⁶—Br-vinyl pyrimidine, C⁵-nitropyrimidine, C⁵-amino-pyrimidine,N²-alkylpurines, N²-alkyl-6-thiopurines, 5-azacytidinyl, 5-azauracilyl,triazolopyridinyl, imidazolopyridinyl, pyrrolopyrimidinyl, andpyrazolopyrimidinyl. Purine bases include, but are not limited to,guanine, adenine, hypoxanthine, 7-deazaguanine, 7-deazaadenine,2,6-diaminopurine, and 6-chloropurine. Functional oxygen and nitrogengroups on the base can be protected as necessary or desired. Suitableprotecting groups are well known to those skilled in the art, andinclude trimethylsilyl, dimethylhexylsilyl, t-butyldimethylsilyl, andt-butyldiphenylsilyl, trityl, alkyl groups, and acyl groups such asacetyl and propionyl, methanesulfonyl, and p-toluenesulfonyl.

The term “acyl” or “O-linked ester” refers to a group of the formulaC(O)R′, wherein R′ is alkyl or cycloalkyl (including lower alkyl),carboxylate reside of amino acid, aryl including phenyl, alkaryl,arylalkyl including benzyl, alkoxyalkyl including methoxymethyl,aryloxyalkyl such as phenoxymethyl; or substituted alkyl (includinglower alkyl), aryl including phenyl optionally substituted with chloro,bromo, fluoro, iodo, C₁ to C₄ alkyl or C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, sulfonate esterssuch as alkyl or arylalkyl sulphonyl including methanesulfonyl, themono, di or triphosphate ester, trityl or monomethoxy-trityl,substituted benzyl, alkaryl, arylalkyl including benzyl, alkoxyalkylincluding methoxymethyl, aryloxyalkyl such as phenoxymethyl. Aryl groupsin the esters optimally comprise a phenyl group. In particular, acylgroups include acetyl, trifluoroacetyl, methylacetyl, cyclpropylacetyl,propionyl, butyryl, hexanoyl, heptanoyl, octanoyl, neo-heptanoyl,phenylacetyl, 2-acetoxy-2-phenylacetyl, diphenylacetyl,α-methoxy-α-trifluoromethyl-phenylacetyl, bromoacetyl,2-nitro-benzeneacetyl, 4-chloro-benzeneacetyl,2-chloro-2,2-diphenylacetyl, 2-chloro-2-phenylacetyl, trimethylacetyl,chlorodifluoroacetyl, perfluoroacetyl, fluoroacetyl,bromodifluoroacetyl, methoxyacetyl, 2-thiopheneacetyl,chlorosulfonylacetyl, 3-methoxyphenylacetyl, phenoxyacetyl,tert-butylacetyl, trichloroacetyl, monochloro-acetyl, dichloroacetyl,7H-dodecafluoro-heptanoyl, perfluoro-heptanoyl,7H-dodeca-fluoroheptanoyl, 7-chlorododecafluoro-heptanoyl,7-chloro-dodecafluoro-heptanoyl, 7H-dodecafluoroheptanoyl,7H-dodeca-fluoroheptanoyl, nona-fluoro-3,6-dioxa-heptanoyl,nonafluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoyl, perfluoroheptanoyl, methoxybenzoyl,methyl 3-amino-5-phenylthiophene-2-carboxyl,3,6-dichloro-2-methoxy-benzoyl, 4-(1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-ethoxy)-benzoyl,2-bromo-propionyl, omega-aminocapryl, decanoyl, n-pentadecanoyl,stearyl, 3-cyclopentyl-propionyl, 1-benzene-carboxyl, O-acetylmandelyl,pivaloyl acetyl, 1-adamantane-carboxyl, cyclohexane-carboxyl,2,6-pyridinedicarboxyl, cyclopropane-carboxyl, cyclobutane-carboxyl,perfluorocyclohexyl carboxyl, 4-methylbenzoyl, chloromethyl isoxazolylcarbonyl, perfluorocyclohexyl carboxyl, crotonyl,1-methyl-1H-indazole-3-carbonyl, 2-propenyl, isovaleryl,1-pyrrolidinecarbonyl, 4-phenylbenzoyl.

The term “amino acid” refers to naturally occurring and synthetic α, β γor δ amino acids, and includes but is not limited to, amino acids foundin proteins, i.e. glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine,methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, proline, serine, threonine,cysteine, tyrosine, asparagine, glutamine, aspartate, glutamate, lysine,arginine and histidine. In certain embodiments, the amino acid is in theL-configuration. Alternatively, the amino acid can be a derivative ofalanyl, valinyl, leucinyl, isoleuccinyl, prolinyl, phenylalaninyl,tryptophanyl, methioninyl, glycinyl, serinyl, threoninyl, cysteinyl,tyrosinyl, asparaginyl, glutaminyl, aspartoyl, glutaroyl, lysinyl,argininyl, histidinyl, β-alanyl, β-valinyl, β-leucinyl, β-isoleuccinyl,β-prolinyl, β-phenylalaninyl, β-tryptophanyl, β-methioninyl, β-glycinyl,β-serinyl, β-threoninyl, β-cysteinyl, β-tyrosinyl, β-asparaginyl,β-glutaminyl, β-aspartoyl, β-glutaroyl, β-argininyl or β-histidinyl.

The term “substantially free of” or “substantially in the absence of”with respect to a nucleoside composition refers to a nucleosidecomposition that includes at least 85 or 90% by weight, in certainembodiments 95%, 98%, 99% or 100% by weight, of the designatedenantiomer of that nucleoside. In certain embodiments, in the methodsand compounds provided herein, the compounds are substantially free ofenantiomers.

Similarly, the term “isolated” with respect to a nucleoside compositionrefers to a nucleoside composition that includes at least 85, 90%, 95%,98%, 99% to 100% by weight, of the nucleoside, the remainder comprisingother chemical species or enantiomers.

“Solvate” refers to a compound provided herein or a salt thereof, thatfurther includes a stoichiometric or non-stoichiometric amount ofsolvent bound by non-covalent intermolecular forces. Where the solventis water, the solvate is a hydrate.

“Isotopic composition” refers to the amount of each isotope present fora given atom, and “natural isotopic composition” refers to the naturallyoccurring isotopic composition or abundance for a given atom. Atomscontaining their natural isotopic composition may also be referred toherein as “non-enriched” atoms. Unless otherwise designated, the atomsof the compounds recited herein are meant to represent any stableisotope of that atom. For example, unless otherwise stated, when aposition is designated specifically as “H” or “hydrogen”, the positionis understood to have hydrogen at its natural isotopic composition.

“Isotopic enrichment” refers to the percentage of incorporation of anamount of a specific isotope at a given atom in a molecule in the placeof that atom's natural isotopic abundance. For example, deuteriumenrichment of 1% at a given position means that 1% of the molecules in agiven sample contain deuterium at the specified position. Because thenaturally occurring distribution of deuterium is about 0.0156%,deuterium enrichment at any position in a compound synthesized usingnon-enriched starting materials is about 0.0156%. The isotopicenrichment of the compounds provided herein can be determined usingconventional analytical methods known to one of ordinary skill in theart, including mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonancespectroscopy.

“Isotopically enriched” refers to an atom having an isotopic compositionother than the natural isotopic composition of that atom. “Isotopicallyenriched” may also refer to a compound containing at least one atomhaving an isotopic composition other than the natural isotopiccomposition of that atom.

As used herein, “alkyl,” “cycloalkyl,” “alkenyl,” “cycloalkenyl,”“alkynyl,” “aryl,” “alkoxy,” “alkoxycarbonyl,” “amino,” “carboxyl,”“alkylamino,” “arylamino,” “thioalkyoxy,” “heterocyclyl,” “heteroaryl,”“alkylheterocyclyl,” “alkylheteroaryl,” “acyl,” “aralkyl,” “alkaryl,”“purine,” “pyrimidine,” “carboxyl” and “amino acid” groups optionallycomprise deuterium at one or more positions where hydrogen atoms arepresent, and wherein the deuterium composition of the atom or atoms isother than the natural isotopic composition.

Also as used herein, “alkyl,” “cycloalkyl,” “alkenyl,” “cycloalkenyl,”“alkynyl,” “aryl,” “alkoxy,” “alkoxycarbonyl,” “carboxyl,” “alkylamino,”“arylamino,” “thioalkyoxy,” “heterocyclyl,” “heteroaryl,”“alkylheterocyclyl,” “alkylheteroaryl,” “acyl,” “aralkyl,” “alkaryl,”“purine,” “pyrimidine,” “carboxyl” and “amino acid” groups optionallycomprise carbon-13 at an amount other than the natural isotopiccomposition.

As used herein, EC₅₀ refers to a dosage, concentration or amount of aparticular test compound that elicits a dose-dependent response at 50%of maximal expression of a particular response that is induced, provokedor potentiated by the particular test compound.

As used herein, the IC₅₀ refers to an amount, concentration or dosage ofa particular test compound that achieves a 50% inhibition of a maximalresponse in an assay that measures such response.

The term “host”, as used herein, refers to any unicellular ormulticellular organism in which the virus can replicate, including celllines and animals, and in certain embodiments, a human. Alternatively,the host can be carrying a part of the Flaviviridae viral genome, whosereplication or function can be altered by the compounds of the presentinvention. The term host specifically includes infected cells, cellstransfected with all or part of the Flaviviridae genome and animals, inparticular, primates (including chimpanzees) and humans. In most animalapplications of the present invention, the host is a human patient.Veterinary applications, in certain indications, however, are clearlyanticipated by the present invention (such as chimpanzees).

As used herein, the terms “subject” and “patient” are usedinterchangeably herein. The terms “subject” and “subjects” refer to ananimal, such as a mammal including a non-primate (e.g., a cow, pig,horse, cat, dog, rat, and mouse) and a primate (e.g., a monkey such as acynomolgous monkey, a chimpanzee and a human), and for example, a human.In certain embodiments, the subject is refractory or non-responsive tocurrent treatments for hepatitis C infection. In another embodiment, thesubject is a farm animal (e.g., a horse, a cow, a pig, etc.) or a pet(e.g., a dog or a cat). In certain embodiments, the subject is a human.

As used herein, the terms “therapeutic agent” and “therapeutic agents”refer to any agent(s) which can be used in the treatment or preventionof a disorder or one or more symptoms thereof. In certain embodiments,the term “therapeutic agent” includes a compound provided herein. Incertain embodiments, a therapeutic agent is an agent which is known tobe useful for, or has been or is currently being used for the treatmentor prevention of a disorder or one or more symptoms thereof.

“Therapeutically effective amount” refers to an amount of a compound orcomposition that, when administered to a subject for treating a disease,is sufficient to effect such treatment for the disease. A“therapeutically effective amount” can vary depending on, inter alia,the compound, the disease and its severity, and the age, weight, etc.,of the subject to be treated.

“Treating” or “treatment” of any disease or disorder refers, in certainembodiments, to ameliorating a disease or disorder that exists in asubject. In another embodiment, “treating” or “treatment” includesameliorating at least one physical parameter, which may be indiscernibleby the subject. In yet another embodiment, “treating” or “treatment”includes modulating the disease or disorder, either physically (e.g.,stabilization of a discernible symptom) or physiologically (e.g.,stabilization of a physical parameter) or both. In yet anotherembodiment, “treating” or “treatment” includes delaying the onset of thedisease or disorder.

As used herein, the terms “prophylactic agent” and “prophylactic agents”as used refer to any agent(s) which can be used in the prevention of adisorder or one or more symptoms thereof. In certain embodiments, theterm “prophylactic agent” includes a compound provided herein. Incertain other embodiments, the term “prophylactic agent” does not refera compound provided herein. For example, a prophylactic agent is anagent which is known to be useful for, or has been or is currently beingused to prevent or impede the onset, development, progression and/orseverity of a disorder.

As used herein, the phrase “prophylactically effective amount” refers tothe amount of a therapy (e.g., prophylactic agent) which is sufficientto result in the prevention or reduction of the development, recurrenceor onset of one or more symptoms associated with a disorder (, or toenhance or improve the prophylactic effect(s) of another therapy (e.g.,another prophylactic agent).

Compounds

Provided herein are substituted 3′,5′-cyclic phosphate purine nucleotidecompounds useful for the treatment of Flaviviridae infections such asHCV infection. The substituted 3′,5′-cyclic phosphate purine nucleotidecompounds can be formed as described herein and used for the treatmentof Flaviviridae infections such as HCV infection.

In certain embodiments, provided herein are compounds according toFormula I:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, stereoisomeric form,tautomeric form or polymorphic form thereof, wherein R¹ is lower alkylor hydrogen and R² is lower alkyl. All combinations of such embodimentsare within the scope of this disclosure.

In certain embodiments, R¹ is C₁₋₄ lower alkyl or hydrogen. In certainembodiments, R¹ is C₁₋₄ lower alkyl. In certain embodiments, R¹ ismethyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl or t-butyl. Incertain embodiments, R¹ is C₂₋₄ lower alkyl. In certain embodiments, R¹is ethyl, propyl or butyl. In certain embodiments, R¹ is ethyl,n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl or t-butyl. In particularembodiments, R¹ is ethyl.

In certain embodiments, R² is C₁₋₅ lower alkyl. In certain embodiments,R² is methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl orcyclopentyl. In certain embodiments,

R² is methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, 2-butyl,t-butyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl or cyclopentyl. In particularembodiments, R² is isopropyl.

In certain embodiments, R¹ is C₁₋₄ lower alkyl or hydrogen, and R² ismethyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl or cyclopentyl. Incertain embodiments, R¹ is ethyl, and R² is methyl, ethyl, propyl,butyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl or cyclopentyl. In certain embodiments,R¹ is ethyl, and R² is methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl,isobutyl, 2-butyl, t-butyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl or cyclopentyl. Incertain embodiments, R¹ is ethyl, and R² is isopropyl.

In certain embodiments, provided herein are compounds according toFormula Ia or Ib:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, stereoisomeric form,tautomeric form or polymorphic form thereof, wherein R¹ is lower alkyland R² is lower alkyl. All combinations of such embodiments are withinthe scope of this disclosure.

In certain embodiments, R¹ is C₂₋₄ lower alkyl. In certain embodiments,R¹ is ethyl, propyl or butyl. In certain embodiments, R¹ is ethyl,n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl or t-butyl. In particularembodiments, R¹ is ethyl.

In certain embodiments, R² is C₁₋₄ lower alkyl. In certain embodiments,R² is methyl, ethyl, propyl or butyl. In certain embodiments, R² ismethyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl or t-butyl. Inparticular embodiments, R² is isopropyl.

In certain embodiments, R¹ is C₂₋₄ lower alkyl, and R² is methyl, ethyl,propyl or butyl. In certain embodiments, R¹ is ethyl, and R² is methyl,ethyl, propyl or butyl. In certain embodiments, R¹ is ethyl, and R² ismethyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl or t-butyl. Incertain embodiments, R¹ is ethyl, and R² is isopropyl.

In certain embodiments, provided herein are compounds according toFormula II:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, stereoisomeric form,tautomeric form or polymorphic form thereof.

In certain embodiments, provided herein are compounds according toFormula IIa or IIb:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, stereoisomeric form,tautomeric form or polymorphic form thereof.

In some embodiments, provided herein are:

-   (a) compounds as described herein, e.g., of Formula I or II, and    pharmaceutically acceptable salts and compositions thereof-   (b) compounds as described herein, e.g., of Formula I or II, and    pharmaceutically acceptable salts and compositions thereof for use    in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of a liver disorder including    Flaviviridae infection, especially in individuals diagnosed as    having a Flaviviridae infection or being at risk of becoming    infected by hepatitis C;-   (c) processes for the preparation of compounds as described herein,    e.g., of Formula I or II, as described in more detail elsewhere    herein;-   (d) pharmaceutical formulations comprising a compound as described    herein, e.g., of Formula I or II, or a pharmaceutically acceptable    salt thereof together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or    diluent;-   (e) pharmaceutical formulations comprising a compound as described    herein, e.g., of Formula I or II, or a pharmaceutically acceptable    salt thereof together with one or more other effective anti-HCV    agents, optionally in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or    diluent;-   (f) a method for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of a host infected    with Flaviviridae that includes the administration of an effective    amount of a compound as described herein, e.g., of Formula I or II,    its pharmaceutically acceptable salt or composition; or-   (g) a method for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of a host infected    with Flaviviridae that includes the administration of an effective    amount of a compounds as described herein, e.g., of Formula I or II,    its pharmaceutically acceptable salt or composition in combination    and/or alternation with one or more effective anti-HCV agent.

Optically Active Compounds

It is appreciated that compounds provided herein have several chiralcenters and may exist in and be isolated in optically active and racemicforms. Some compounds may exhibit polymorphism. It is to be understoodthat any racemic, optically-active, diastereomeric, polymorphic, orstereoisomeric form, or mixtures thereof, of a compound provided herein,which possess the useful properties described herein is within the scopeof the invention. It being well known in the art how to prepareoptically active forms (for example, by resolution of the racemic formby recrystallization techniques, by synthesis from optically-activestarting materials, by chiral synthesis, or by chromatographicseparation using a chiral stationary phase).

In particular, since the 1′ and 4′ carbons of a nucleoside are chiral,their nonhydrogen substituents (the base and the CHOR groups,respectively) can be either cis (on the same side) or trans (on oppositesides) with respect to the sugar ring system. The four optical isomerstherefore are represented by the following configurations (whenorienting the sugar moiety in a horizontal plane such that the oxygenatom is in the back): cis (with both groups “up”, which corresponds tothe configuration of naturally occurring β-D nucleosides), cis (withboth groups “down”, which is a normaturally occurring β-Lconfiguration), trans (with the C2′ substituent “up” and the C4′substituent “down”), and trans (with the C2′substituent “down” and theC4′ substituent “up”). The “D-nucleosides” are cis nucleosides in anatural configuration and the “L-nucleosides” are cis nucleosides in thenon-naturally occurring configuration.

Likewise, most amino acids are chiral (designated as L or D, wherein theL enantiomer is the naturally occurring configuration) and can exist asseparate enantiomers.

Examples of methods to obtain optically active materials are known inthe art, and include at least the following.

-   -   i) physical separation of crystals—a technique whereby        macroscopic crystals of the individual enantiomers are manually        separated. This technique can be used if crystals of the        separate enantiomers exist, i.e., the material is a        conglomerate, and the crystals are visually distinct;    -   ii) simultaneous crystallization—a technique whereby the        individual enantiomers are separately crystallized from a        solution of the racemate, possible only if the latter is a        conglomerate in the solid state;    -   iii) enzymatic resolutions—a technique whereby partial or        complete separation of a racemate by virtue of differing rates        of reaction for the enantiomers with an enzyme;    -   iv) enzymatic asymmetric synthesis—a synthetic technique whereby        at least one step of the synthesis uses an enzymatic reaction to        obtain an enantiomerically pure or enriched synthetic precursor        of the desired enantiomer;    -   v) chemical asymmetric synthesis—a synthetic technique whereby        the desired enantiomer is synthesized from an achiral precursor        under conditions that produce asymmetry (i.e., chirality) in the        product, which may be achieved using chiral catalysts or chiral        auxiliaries;    -   vi) diastereomer separations—a technique whereby a racemic        compound is reacted with an enantiomerically pure reagent (the        chiral auxiliary) that converts the individual enantiomers to        diastereomers. The resulting diastereomers are then separated by        chromatography or crystallization by virtue of their now more        distinct structural differences and the chiral auxiliary later        removed to obtain the desired enantiomer;    -   vii) first- and second-order asymmetric transformations—a        technique whereby diastereomers from the racemate equilibrate to        yield a preponderance in solution of the diastereomer from the        desired enantiomer or where preferential crystallization of the        diastereomer from the desired enantiomer perturbs the        equilibrium such that eventually in principle all the material        is converted to the crystalline diastereomer from the desired        enantiomer. The desired enantiomer is then released from the        diastereomer;    -   viii) kinetic resolutions—this technique refers to the        achievement of partial or complete resolution of a racemate (or        of a further resolution of a partially resolved compound) by        virtue of unequal reaction rates of the enantiomers with a        chiral, non-racemic reagent or catalyst under kinetic        conditions;    -   ix) enantiospecific synthesis from non-racemic precursors—a        synthetic technique whereby the desired enantiomer is obtained        from non-chiral starting materials and where the stereochemical        integrity is not or is only minimally compromised over the        course of the synthesis;    -   x) chiral liquid chromatography—a technique whereby the        enantiomers of a racemate are separated in a liquid mobile phase        by virtue of their differing interactions with a stationary        phase. The stationary phase can be made of chiral material or        the mobile phase can contain an additional chiral material to        provoke the differing interactions;    -   xi) chiral gas chromatography—a technique whereby the racemate        is volatilized and enantiomers are separated by virtue of their        differing interactions in the gaseous mobile phase with a column        containing a fixed non-racemic chiral adsorbent phase;    -   xii) extraction with chiral solvents—a technique whereby the        enantiomers are separated by virtue of preferential dissolution        of one enantiomer into a particular chiral solvent;    -   xiii) transport across chiral membranes—a technique whereby a        racemate is placed in contact with a thin membrane barrier. The        barrier typically separates two miscible fluids, one containing        the racemate, and a driving force such as concentration or        pressure differential causes preferential transport across the        membrane barrier. Separation occurs as a result of the        non-racemic chiral nature of the membrane which allows only one        enantiomer of the racemate to pass through.

In some embodiments, compositions of substituted 3′,5′-cyclic phosphatepurine nucleotide compounds that are substantially free of a designatedenantiomer of that compound. In certain embodiments, in the methods andcompounds of this invention, the compounds are substantially free ofenantiomers. In some embodiments, the composition includes that includesa compound that is at least 85, 90%, 95%, 98%, 99% to 100% by weight, ofthe compound, the remainder comprising other chemical species orenantiomers.

Isotopically Enriched Compounds

Also provided herein are isotopically enriched compounds, including butnot limited to isotopically enriched substituted 3′,5′-cyclic phosphatepurine nucleotide compounds.

Isotopic enrichment (for example, deuteration) of pharmaceuticals toimprove pharmacokinetics (“PK”), pharmacodynamics (“PD”), and toxicityprofiles, has been demonstrated previously with some classes of drugs.See, for example, Lijinsky et. al., Food Cosmet. Toxicol., 20: 393(1982); Lijinsky et. al., J. Nat. Cancer Inst., 69: 1127 (1982); Mangoldet. al., Mutation Res. 308: 33 (1994); Gordon et. al., Drug Metab.Dispos., 15: 589 (1987); Zello et. al., Metabolism, 43: 487 (1994);Gately et. al., J. Nucl. Med., 27: 388 (1986); Wade D, Chem. Biol.Interact. 117: 191 (1999).

Isotopic enrichment of a drug can be used, for example, to (1) reduce oreliminate unwanted metabolites, (2) increase the half-life of the parentdrug, (3) decrease the number of doses needed to achieve a desiredeffect, (4) decrease the amount of a dose necessary to achieve a desiredeffect, (5) increase the formation of active metabolites, if any areformed, and/or (6) decrees the production of deleterious metabolites inspecific tissues and/or create a more effective drug and/or a safer drugfor combination therapy, whether the combination therapy is intentionalor not.

Replacement of an atom for one of its isotopes often will result in achange in the reaction rate of a chemical reaction. This phenomenon isknown as the Kinetic Isotope Effect (“KIE”). For example, if a C—H bondis broken during a rate-determining step in a chemical reaction (i.e.the step with the highest transition state energy), substitution of adeuterium for that hydrogen will cause a decrease in the reaction rateand the process will slow down. This phenomenon is known as theDeuterium Kinetic Isotope Effect (“DKIE”). (See, e.g., Foster et al.,Adv. Drug Res., vol. 14, pp. 1-36 (1985); Kushner et al., Can. J.Physiol. Pharmacol., vol. 77, pp. 79-88 (1999)).

The magnitude of the DKIE can be expressed as the ratio between therates of a given reaction in which a C—H bond is broken, and the samereaction where deuterium is substituted for hydrogen. The DKIE can rangefrom about 1 (no isotope effect) to very large numbers, such as 50 ormore, meaning that the reaction can be fifty, or more, times slower whendeuterium is substituted for hydrogen. High DKIE values may be due inpart to a phenomenon known as tunneling, which is a consequence of theuncertainty principle. Tunneling is ascribed to the small mass of ahydrogen atom, and occurs because transition states involving a protoncan sometimes form in the absence of the required activation energy.Because deuterium has more mass than hydrogen, it statistically has amuch lower probability of undergoing this phenomenon.

Tritium (“T”) is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen, used in research,fusion reactors, neutron generators and radiopharmaceuticals. Tritium isa hydrogen atom that has 2 neutrons in the nucleus and has an atomicweight close to 3. It occurs naturally in the environment in very lowconcentrations, most commonly found as T₂O. Tritium decays slowly(half-life=12.3 years) and emits a low energy beta particle that cannotpenetrate the outer layer of human skin. Internal exposure is the mainhazard associated with this isotope, yet it must be ingested in largeamounts to pose a significant health risk. As compared with deuterium, alesser amount of tritium must be consumed before it reaches a hazardouslevel. Substitution of tritium (“T”) for hydrogen results in yet astronger bond than deuterium and gives numerically larger isotopeeffects. Similarly, substitution of isotopes for other elements,including, but not limited to, ¹³C or ¹⁴C for carbon, ³³S, ³⁴S, or ³⁶Sfor sulfur, ¹⁵N for nitrogen, and ¹⁷O or ¹⁸O for oxygen, may lead to asimilar kinetic isotope effect.

For example, the DKIE was used to decrease the hepatotoxicity ofhalothane by presumably limiting the production of reactive species suchas trifluoroacetyl chloride. However, this method may not be applicableto all drug classes. For example, deuterium incorporation can lead tometabolic switching. The concept of metabolic switching asserts thatxenogens, when sequestered by Phase I enzymes, may bind transiently andre-bind in a variety of conformations prior to the chemical reaction(e.g., oxidation). This hypothesis is supported by the relatively vastsize of binding pockets in many Phase I enzymes and the promiscuousnature of many metabolic reactions. Metabolic switching can potentiallylead to different proportions of known metabolites as well as altogethernew metabolites. This new metabolic profile may impart more or lesstoxicity.

The animal body expresses a variety of enzymes for the purpose ofeliminating foreign substances, such as therapeutic agents, from itscirculation system. Examples of such enzymes include the cytochrome P450enzymes (“CYPs”), esterases, proteases, reductases, dehydrogenases, andmonoamine oxidases, to react with and convert these foreign substancesto more polar intermediates or metabolites for renal excretion. Some ofthe most common metabolic reactions of pharmaceutical compounds involvethe oxidation of a carbon-hydrogen (C—H) bond to either a carbon-oxygen(—O) or carbon-carbon (C—C) pi-bond. The resultant metabolites may bestable or unstable under physiological conditions, and can havesubstantially different pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and acute andlong-term toxicity profiles relative to the parent compounds. For manydrugs, such oxidations are rapid. These drugs therefore often requirethe administration of multiple or high daily doses.

Therefore, isotopic enrichment at certain positions of a compoundprovided herein will produce a detectable KIE that will affect thepharmacokinetic, pharmacologic, and/or toxicological profiles of acompound provided herein in comparison with a similar compound having anatural isotopic composition.

Preparation of Compounds

The compounds provided herein can be prepared, isolated or obtained byany method apparent to those of skill in the art. Exemplary methods ofpreparation are described in detail in the examples below. In certainembodiments, compounds provided herein can be prepared according toScheme 1:

In certain embodiments, one or more protection or deprotection steps maybe included in the methods of preparation described in Scheme 1.

Pharmaceutical Compositions and Methods of Administration

Substituted 3′,5′-cyclic phosphate purine nucleotide compounds can beformulated into pharmaceutical compositions using methods available inthe art and those disclosed herein. Any of the compounds disclosedherein can be provided in the appropriate pharmaceutical composition andbe administered by a suitable route of administration.

The methods provided herein encompass administering pharmaceuticalcompositions containing at least one compound as described herein,including a compound of general Formula I or II, if appropriate in thesalt form, either used alone or in the form of a combination with one ormore compatible and pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, such asdiluents or adjuvants, or with another anti-HCV agent.

In certain embodiments, the second agent can be formulated or packagedwith the compound provided herein. Of course, the second agent will onlybe formulated with the compound provided herein when, according to thejudgment of those of skill in the art, such co-formulation should notinterfere with the activity of either agent or the method ofadministration. In certain embodiments, the compound provided herein andthe second agent are formulated separately. They can be packagedtogether, or packaged separately, for the convenience of thepractitioner of skill in the art.

In clinical practice the active agents provided herein may beadministered by any conventional route, in particular orally,parenterally, rectally or by inhalation (e.g. in the form of aerosols).In certain embodiments, the compound provided herein is administeredorally.

Use may be made, as solid compositions for oral administration, oftablets, pills, hard gelatin capsules, powders or granules. In thesecompositions, the active product is mixed with one or more inertdiluents or adjuvants, such as sucrose, lactose or starch.

These compositions can comprise substances other than diluents, forexample a lubricant, such as magnesium stearate, or a coating intendedfor controlled release.

Use may be made, as liquid compositions for oral administration, ofsolutions which are pharmaceutically acceptable, suspensions, emulsions,syrups and elixirs containing inert diluents, such as water or liquidparaffin. These compositions can also comprise substances other thandiluents, for example wetting, sweetening or flavoring products.

The compositions for parenteral administration can be emulsions orsterile solutions. Use may be made, as solvent or vehicle, of propyleneglycol, a polyethylene glycol, vegetable oils, in particular olive oil,or injectable organic esters, for example ethyl oleate. Thesecompositions can also contain adjuvants, in particular wetting,isotonizing, emulsifying, dispersing and stabilizing agents.Sterilization can be carried out in several ways, for example using abacteriological filter, by radiation or by heating. They can also beprepared in the form of sterile solid compositions which can bedissolved at the time of use in sterile water or any other injectablesterile medium.

The compositions for rectal administration are suppositories or rectalcapsules which contain, in addition to the active principle, excipientssuch as cocoa butter, semi-synthetic glycerides or polyethylene glycols.

The compositions can also be aerosols. For use in the form of liquidaerosols, the compositions can be stable sterile solutions or solidcompositions dissolved at the time of use in apyrogenic sterile water,in saline or any other pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle. For use inthe form of dry aerosols intended to be directly inhaled, the activeprinciple is finely divided and combined with a water-soluble soliddiluent or vehicle, for example dextran, mannitol or lactose.

In certain embodiments, a composition provided herein is apharmaceutical composition or a single unit dosage form. Pharmaceuticalcompositions and single unit dosage forms provided herein comprise aprophylactically or therapeutically effective amount of one or moreprophylactic or therapeutic agents (e.g., a compound provided herein, orother prophylactic or therapeutic agent), and a typically one or morepharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients. In a specificembodiment and in this context, the term “pharmaceutically acceptable”means approved by a regulatory agency of the Federal or a stategovernment or listed in the U.S. Pharmacopeia or other generallyrecognized pharmacopeia for use in animals, and more particularly inhumans. The term “carrier” includes a diluent, adjuvant (e.g., Freund'sadjuvant (complete and incomplete)), excipient, or vehicle with whichthe therapeutic is administered. Such pharmaceutical carriers can besterile liquids, such as water and oils, including those of petroleum,animal, vegetable or synthetic origin, such as peanut oil, soybean oil,mineral oil, sesame oil and the like. Water can be used as a carrierwhen the pharmaceutical composition is administered intravenously.Saline solutions and aqueous dextrose and glycerol solutions can also beemployed as liquid carriers, particularly for injectable solutions.Examples of suitable pharmaceutical carriers are described in“Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences” by E. W. Martin.

Typical pharmaceutical compositions and dosage forms comprise one ormore excipients. Suitable excipients are well-known to those skilled inthe art of pharmacy, and non-limiting examples of suitable excipientsinclude starch, glucose, lactose, sucrose, gelatin, malt, rice, flour,chalk, silica gel, sodium stearate, glycerol monostearate, talc, sodiumchloride, dried skim milk, glycerol, propylene, glycol, water, ethanoland the like. Whether a particular excipient is suitable forincorporation into a pharmaceutical composition or dosage form dependson a variety of factors well known in the art including, but not limitedto, the way in which the dosage form will be administered to a subjectand the specific active ingredients in the dosage form. The compositionor single unit dosage form, if desired, can also contain minor amountsof wetting or emulsifying agents, or pH buffering agents.

Lactose free compositions provided herein can comprise excipients thatare well known in the art and are listed, for example, in the U.S.Pharmocopia (USP)SP(XXI)/NF (XVI). In general, lactose free compositionscomprise an active ingredient, a binder/filler, and a lubricant inpharmaceutically compatible and pharmaceutically acceptable amounts.Exemplary lactose free dosage forms comprise an active ingredient,microcrystalline cellulose, pre gelatinized starch, and magnesiumstearate.

Further encompassed herein are anhydrous pharmaceutical compositions anddosage forms comprising active ingredients, since water can facilitatethe degradation of some compounds. For example, the addition of water(e.g., 5%) is widely accepted in the pharmaceutical arts as a means ofsimulating long term storage in order to determine characteristics suchas shelf life or the stability of formulations over time. See, e.g.,Jens T. Carstensen, Drug Stability: Principles & Practice, 2d. Ed.,Marcel Dekker, NY, N.Y., 1995, pp. 379 80. In effect, water and heataccelerate the decomposition of some compounds. Thus, the effect ofwater on a formulation can be of great significance since moistureand/or humidity are commonly encountered during manufacture, handling,packaging, storage, shipment, and use of formulations.

Anhydrous pharmaceutical compositions and dosage forms provided hereincan be prepared using anhydrous or low moisture containing ingredientsand low moisture or low humidity conditions. Pharmaceutical compositionsand dosage forms that comprise lactose and at least one activeingredient that comprises a primary or secondary amine can be anhydrousif substantial contact with moisture and/or humidity duringmanufacturing, packaging, and/or storage is expected.

An anhydrous pharmaceutical composition should be prepared and storedsuch that its anhydrous nature is maintained. Accordingly, anhydrouscompositions can be packaged using materials known to prevent exposureto water such that they can be included in suitable formulary kits.Examples of suitable packaging include, but are not limited to,hermetically sealed foils, plastics, unit dose containers (e.g., vials),blister packs, and strip packs.

Further provided are pharmaceutical compositions and dosage forms thatcomprise one or more compounds that reduce the rate by which an activeingredient will decompose. Such compounds, which are referred to hereinas “stabilizers,” include, but are not limited to, antioxidants such asascorbic acid, pH buffers, or salt buffers.

The pharmaceutical compositions and single unit dosage forms can takethe form of solutions, suspensions, emulsion, tablets, pills, capsules,powders, sustained-release formulations and the like. Oral formulationcan include standard carriers such as pharmaceutical grades of mannitol,lactose, starch, magnesium stearate, sodium saccharine, cellulose,magnesium carbonate, etc. Such compositions and dosage forms willcontain a prophylactically or therapeutically effective amount of aprophylactic or therapeutic agent, in certain embodiments, in purifiedform, together with a suitable amount of carrier so as to provide theform for proper administration to the subject. The formulation shouldsuit the mode of administration. In a certain embodiment, thepharmaceutical compositions or single unit dosage forms are sterile andin suitable form for administration to a subject, for example, an animalsubject, such as a mammalian subject, for example, a human subject.

A pharmaceutical composition is formulated to be compatible with itsintended route of administration. Examples of routes of administrationinclude, but are not limited to, parenteral, e.g., intravenous,intradermal, subcutaneous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, oral, buccal,sublingual, inhalation, intranasal, transdermal, topical, transmucosal,intra-tumoral, intra-synovial and rectal administration. In a specificembodiment, the composition is formulated in accordance with routineprocedures as a pharmaceutical composition adapted for intravenous,subcutaneous, intramuscular, oral, intranasal or topical administrationto human beings. In an embodiment, a pharmaceutical composition isformulated in accordance with routine procedures for subcutaneousadministration to human beings. Typically, compositions for intravenousadministration are solutions in sterile isotonic aqueous buffer. Wherenecessary, the composition may also include a solubilizing agent and alocal anesthetic such as lignocamne to ease pain at the site of theinjection.

Examples of dosage forms include, but are not limited to: tablets;caplets; capsules, such as soft elastic gelatin capsules; cachets;troches; lozenges; dispersions; suppositories; ointments; cataplasms(poultices); pastes; powders; dressings; creams; plasters; solutions;patches; aerosols (e.g., nasal sprays or inhalers); gels; liquid dosageforms suitable for oral or mucosal administration to a subject,including suspensions (e.g., aqueous or non-aqueous liquid suspensions,oil in water emulsions, or a water in oil liquid emulsions), solutions,and elixirs; liquid dosage forms suitable for parenteral administrationto a subject; and sterile solids (e.g., crystalline or amorphous solids)that can be reconstituted to provide liquid dosage forms suitable forparenteral administration to a subject.

The composition, shape, and type of dosage forms provided herein willtypically vary depending on their use. For example, a dosage form usedin the initial treatment of viral infection may contain larger amountsof one or more of the active ingredients it comprises than a dosage formused in the maintenance treatment of the same infection. Similarly, aparenteral dosage form may contain smaller amounts of one or more of theactive ingredients it comprises than an oral dosage form used to treatthe same disease or disorder. These and other ways in which specificdosage forms encompassed herein will vary from one another will bereadily apparent to those skilled in the art. See, e.g., Remington'sPharmaceutical Sciences, 20th ed., Mack Publishing, Easton Pa. (2000).

Generally, the ingredients of compositions are supplied eitherseparately or mixed together in unit dosage form, for example, as a drylyophilized powder or water free concentrate in a hermetically sealedcontainer such as an ampoule or sachette indicating the quantity ofactive agent. Where the composition is to be administered by infusion,it can be dispensed with an infusion bottle containing sterilepharmaceutical grade water or saline. Where the composition isadministered by injection, an ampoule of sterile water for injection orsaline can be provided so that the ingredients may be mixed prior toadministration.

Typical dosage forms comprise a compound provided herein, or apharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or hydrate thereof lie withinthe range of from about 0.1 mg to about 1000 mg per day, given as asingle once-a-day dose in the morning or as divided doses throughout theday taken with food. Particular dosage forms can have about 0.1, 0.2,0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0, 15.0, 20.0, 25.0, 50.0, 100,200, 250, 500 or 1000 mg of the active compound.

Oral Dosage Forms

Pharmaceutical compositions that are suitable for oral administrationcan be presented as discrete dosage forms, such as, but are not limitedto, tablets (e.g., chewable tablets), caplets, capsules, and liquids(e.g., flavored syrups). Such dosage forms contain predetermined amountsof active ingredients, and may be prepared by methods of pharmacy wellknown to those skilled in the art. See generally, Remington'sPharmaceutical Sciences, 20th ed., Mack Publishing, Easton Pa. (2000).

In certain embodiments, the oral dosage forms are solid and preparedunder anhydrous conditions with anhydrous ingredients, as described indetail in the sections above. However, the scope of the compositionsprovided herein extends beyond anhydrous, solid oral dosage forms. Assuch, further forms are described herein.

Typical oral dosage forms are prepared by combining the activeingredient(s) in an intimate admixture with at least one excipientaccording to conventional pharmaceutical compounding techniques.Excipients can take a wide variety of forms depending on the form ofpreparation desired for administration. For example, excipients suitablefor use in oral liquid or aerosol dosage forms include, but are notlimited to, water, glycols, oils, alcohols, flavoring agents,preservatives, and coloring agents. Examples of excipients suitable foruse in solid oral dosage forms (e.g., powders, tablets, capsules, andcaplets) include, but are not limited to, starches, sugars, microcrystalline cellulose, diluents, granulating agents, lubricants,binders, and disintegrating agents.

Because of their ease of administration, tablets and capsules representthe most advantageous oral dosage unit forms, in which case solidexcipients are employed. If desired, tablets can be coated by standardaqueous or nonaqueous techniques. Such dosage forms can be prepared byany of the methods of pharmacy. In general, pharmaceutical compositionsand dosage forms are prepared by uniformly and intimately admixing theactive ingredients with liquid carriers, finely divided solid carriers,or both, and then shaping the product into the desired presentation ifnecessary.

For example, a tablet can be prepared by compression or molding.Compressed tablets can be prepared by compressing in a suitable machinethe active ingredients in a free flowing form such as powder orgranules, optionally mixed with an excipient. Molded tablets can be madeby molding in a suitable machine a mixture of the powdered compoundmoistened with an inert liquid diluent.

Examples of excipients that can be used in oral dosage forms include,but are not limited to, binders, fillers, disintegrants, and lubricants.Binders suitable for use in pharmaceutical compositions and dosage formsinclude, but are not limited to, corn starch, potato starch, or otherstarches, gelatin, natural and synthetic gums such as acacia, sodiumalginate, alginic acid, other alginates, powdered tragacanth, guar gum,cellulose and its derivatives (e.g., ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate,carboxymethyl cellulose calcium, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose),polyvinyl pyrrolidone, methyl cellulose, pre gelatinized starch,hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, (e.g., Nos. 2208, 2906, 2910),microcrystalline cellulose, and mixtures thereof.

Examples of fillers suitable for use in the pharmaceutical compositionsand dosage forms disclosed herein include, but are not limited to, talc,calcium carbonate (e.g., granules or powder), microcrystallinecellulose, powdered cellulose, dextrates, kaolin, mannitol, silicicacid, sorbitol, starch, pre gelatinized starch, and mixtures thereof.The binder or filler in pharmaceutical compositions is typically presentin from about 50 to about 99 weight percent of the pharmaceuticalcomposition or dosage form.

Suitable forms of microcrystalline cellulose include, but are notlimited to, the materials sold as AVICEL PH 101, AVICEL PH 103 AVICEL RC581, AVICEL PH 105 (available from FMC Corporation, American ViscoseDivision, Avicel Sales, Marcus Hook, Pa.), and mixtures thereof Aspecific binder is a mixture of microcrystalline cellulose and sodiumcarboxymethyl cellulose sold as AVICEL RC 581. Suitable anhydrous or lowmoisture excipients or additives include AVICEL PH 103™ and Starch 1500LM.

Disintegrants are used in the compositions to provide tablets thatdisintegrate when exposed to an aqueous environment. Tablets thatcontain too much disintegrant may disintegrate in storage, while thosethat contain too little may not disintegrate at a desired rate or underthe desired conditions. Thus, a sufficient amount of disintegrant thatis neither too much nor too little to detrimentally alter the release ofthe active ingredients should be used to form solid oral dosage forms.The amount of disintegrant used varies based upon the type offormulation, and is readily discernible to those of ordinary skill inthe art. Typical pharmaceutical compositions comprise from about 0.5 toabout 15 weight percent of disintegrant, specifically from about 1 toabout 5 weight percent of disintegrant.

Disintegrants that can be used in pharmaceutical compositions and dosageforms include, but are not limited to, agar, alginic acid, calciumcarbonate, microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium,crospovidone, polacrilin potassium, sodium starch glycolate, potato ortapioca starch, pre gelatinized starch, other starches, clays, otheralgins, other celluloses, gums, and mixtures thereof.

Lubricants that can be used in pharmaceutical compositions and dosageforms include, but are not limited to, calcium stearate, magnesiumstearate, mineral oil, light mineral oil, glycerin, sorbitol, mannitol,polyethylene glycol, other glycols, stearic acid, sodium lauryl sulfate,talc, hydrogenated vegetable oil (e.g., peanut oil, cottonseed oil,sunflower oil, sesame oil, olive oil, corn oil, and soybean oil), zincstearate, ethyl oleate, ethyl laureate, agar, and mixtures thereof.Additional lubricants include, for example, a syloid silica gel (AEROSIL200, manufactured by W.R. Grace Co. of Baltimore, Md.), a coagulatedaerosol of synthetic silica (marketed by Degussa Co. of Plano, Tex.),CAB 0 SIL (a pyrogenic silicon dioxide product sold by Cabot Co. ofBoston, Mass.), and mixtures thereof. If used at all, lubricants aretypically used in an amount of less than about 1 weight percent of thepharmaceutical compositions or dosage forms into which they areincorporated.

Delayed Release Dosage Forms

Active ingredients such as the compounds provided herein can beadministered by controlled release means or by delivery devices that arewell known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Examples include, butare not limited to, those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,845,770;3,916,899; 3,536,809; 3,598,123; and 4,008,719; 5,674,533; 5,059,595;5,591,767; 5,120,548; 5,073,543; 5,639,476; 5,354,556; 5,639,480;5,733,566; 5,739,108; 5,891,474; 5,922,356; 5,972,891; 5,980,945;5,993,855; 6,045,830; 6,087,324; 6,113,943; 6,197,350; 6,248,363;6,264,970; 6,267,981; 6,376,461; 6,419,961; 6,589,548; 6,613,358; and6,699,500; each of which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety. Such dosage forms can be used to provide slow or controlledrelease of one or more active ingredients using, for example,hydropropylmethyl cellulose, other polymer matrices, gels, permeablemembranes, osmotic systems, multilayer coatings, microparticles,liposomes, microspheres, or a combination thereof to provide the desiredrelease profile in varying proportions. Suitable controlled releaseformulations known to those of ordinary skill in the art, includingthose described herein, can be readily selected for use with the activeingredients provided herein. Thus encompassed herein are single unitdosage forms suitable for oral administration such as, but not limitedto, tablets, capsules, gelcaps, and caplets that are adapted forcontrolled release.

All controlled release pharmaceutical products have a common goal ofimproving drug therapy over that achieved by their non-controlledcounterparts. Ideally, the use of an optimally designed controlledrelease preparation in medical treatment is characterized by a minimumof drug substance being employed to cure or control the condition in aminimum amount of time. Advantages of controlled release formulationsinclude extended activity of the drug, reduced dosage frequency, andincreased subject compliance. In addition, controlled releaseformulations can be used to affect the time of onset of action or othercharacteristics, such as blood levels of the drug, and can thus affectthe occurrence of side (e.g., adverse) effects.

Most controlled release formulations are designed to initially releasean amount of drug (active ingredient) that promptly produces the desiredtherapeutic effect, and gradually and continually release of otheramounts of drug to maintain this level of therapeutic or prophylacticeffect over an extended period of time. In order to maintain thisconstant level of drug in the body, the drug must be released from thedosage form at a rate that will replace the amount of drug beingmetabolized and excreted from the body. Controlled release of an activeingredient can be stimulated by various conditions including, but notlimited to, pH, temperature, enzymes, water, or other physiologicalconditions or compounds.

In certain embodiments, the drug may be administered using intravenousinfusion, an implantable osmotic pump, a transdermal patch, liposomes,or other modes of administration. In certain embodiments, a pump may beused (see, Sefton, CRC Crit. Ref Biomed. Eng. 14:201 (1987); Buchwald etal., Surgery 88:507 (1980); Saudek et al., N Engl. J. Med. 321:574(1989)). In another embodiment, polymeric materials can be used. In yetanother embodiment, a controlled release system can be placed in asubject at an appropriate site determined by a practitioner of skill,i.e., thus requiring only a fraction of the systemic dose (see, e.g.,Goodson, Medical Applications of Controlled Release, vol. 2, pp. 115-138(1984)). Other controlled release systems are discussed in the review byLanger (Science 249:1527-1533 (1990)). The active ingredient can bedispersed in a solid inner matrix, e.g., polymethylmethacrylate,polybutylmethacrylate, plasticized or unplasticized polyvinylchloride,plasticized nylon, plasticized polyethyleneterephthalate, naturalrubber, polyisoprene, polyisobutylene, polybutadiene, polyethylene,ethylene-vinylacetate copolymers, silicone rubbers,polydimethylsiloxanes, silicone carbonate copolymers, hydrophilicpolymers such as hydrogels of esters of acrylic and methacrylic acid,collagen, cross-linked polyvinylalcohol and cross-linked partiallyhydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate, that is surrounded by an outer polymericmembrane, e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene/propylenecopolymers, ethylene/ethyl acrylate copolymers, ethylene/vinylacetatecopolymers, silicone rubbers, polydimethyl siloxanes, neoprene rubber,chlorinated polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, vinylchloride copolymerswith vinyl acetate, vinylidene chloride, ethylene and propylene, ionomerpolyethylene terephthalate, butyl rubber epichlorohydrin rubbers,ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer, ethylene/vinyl acetate/vinyl alcoholterpolymer, and ethylene/vinyloxyethanol copolymer, that is insoluble inbody fluids. The active ingredient then diffuses through the outerpolymeric membrane in a release rate controlling step. The percentage ofactive ingredient in such parenteral compositions is highly dependent onthe specific nature thereof, as well as the needs of the subject.

Parenteral Dosage Forms

In certain embodiments, provided are parenteral dosage forms. Parenteraldosage forms can be administered to subjects by various routesincluding, but not limited to, subcutaneous, intravenous (includingbolus injection), intramuscular, and intraarterial. Because theiradministration typically bypasses subjects' natural defenses againstcontaminants, parenteral dosage forms are typically, sterile or capableof being sterilized prior to administration to a subject. Examples ofparenteral dosage forms include, but are not limited to, solutions readyfor injection, dry products ready to be dissolved or suspended in apharmaceutically acceptable vehicle for injection, suspensions ready forinjection, and emulsions.

Suitable vehicles that can be used to provide parenteral dosage formsare well known to those skilled in the art. Examples include, but arenot limited to: Water for Injection USP; aqueous vehicles such as, butnot limited to, Sodium Chloride Injection, Ringer's Injection, DextroseInjection, Dextrose and Sodium Chloride Injection, and Lactated Ringer'sInjection; water miscible vehicles such as, but not limited to, ethylalcohol, polyethylene glycol, and polypropylene glycol; and non-aqueousvehicles such as, but not limited to, corn oil, cottonseed oil, peanutoil, sesame oil, ethyl oleate, isopropyl myristate, and benzyl benzoate.

Compounds that increase the solubility of one or more of the activeingredients disclosed herein can also be incorporated into theparenteral dosage forms.

Transdermal, Topical & Mucosal Dosage Forms

Also provided are transdermal, topical, and mucosal dosage forms.Transdermal, topical, and mucosal dosage forms include, but are notlimited to, ophthalmic solutions, sprays, aerosols, creams, lotions,ointments, gels, solutions, emulsions, suspensions, or other forms knownto one of skill in the art. See, e.g., Remington's PharmaceuticalSciences, 16^(th), 18th and 20^(th) eds., Mack Publishing, Easton Pa.(1980, 1990 & 2000); and Introduction to Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms,4th ed., Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia (1985). Dosage forms suitable fortreating mucosal tissues within the oral cavity can be formulated asmouthwashes or as oral gels. Further, transdermal dosage forms include“reservoir type” or “matrix type” patches, which can be applied to theskin and worn for a specific period of time to permit the penetration ofa desired amount of active ingredients.

Suitable excipients (e.g., carriers and diluents) and other materialsthat can be used to provide transdermal, topical, and mucosal dosageforms encompassed herein are well known to those skilled in thepharmaceutical arts, and depend on the particular tissue to which agiven pharmaceutical composition or dosage form will be applied. Withthat fact in mind, typical excipients include, but are not limited to,water, acetone, ethanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butane 1,3diol, isopropyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, mineral oil, andmixtures thereof to form lotions, tinctures, creams, emulsions, gels orointments, which are non-toxic and pharmaceutically acceptable.Moisturizers or humectants can also be added to pharmaceuticalcompositions and dosage forms if desired. Examples of such additionalingredients are well known in the art. See, e.g., Remington'sPharmaceutical Sciences, 16^(th), 18th and 20^(th) eds., MackPublishing, Easton Pa. (1980, 1990 & 2000).

Depending on the specific tissue to be treated, additional componentsmay be used prior to, in conjunction with, or subsequent to treatmentwith active ingredients provided. For example, penetration enhancers canbe used to assist in delivering the active ingredients to the tissue.Suitable penetration enhancers include, but are not limited to: acetone;various alcohols such as ethanol, oleyl, and tetrahydrofuryl; alkylsulfoxides such as dimethyl sulfoxide; dimethyl acetamide; dimethylformamide; polyethylene glycol; pyrrolidones such aspolyvinylpyrrolidone; Kollidon grades (Povidone, Polyvidone); urea; andvarious water soluble or insoluble sugar esters such as Tween 80(polysorbate 80) and Span 60 (sorbitan monostearate).

The pH of a pharmaceutical composition or dosage form, or of the tissueto which the pharmaceutical composition or dosage form is applied, mayalso be adjusted to improve delivery of one or more active ingredients.Similarly, the polarity of a solvent carrier, its ionic strength, ortonicity can be adjusted to improve delivery. Compounds such asstearates can also be added to pharmaceutical compositions or dosageforms to advantageously alter the hydrophilicity or lipophilicity of oneor more active ingredients so as to improve delivery. In this regard,stearates can serve as a lipid vehicle for the formulation, as anemulsifying agent or surfactant, and as a delivery enhancing orpenetration enhancing agent. Different salts, hydrates or solvates ofthe active ingredients can be used to further adjust the properties ofthe resulting composition.

Dosage and Unit Dosage Forms

In human therapeutics, the doctor will determine the posology which heconsiders most appropriate according to a preventive or curativetreatment and according to the age, weight, stage of the infection andother factors specific to the subject to be treated. In certainembodiments, doses are from about 1 to about 1000 mg per day for anadult, or from about 5 to about 250 mg per day or from about 10 to 50 mgper day for an adult. In certain embodiments, doses are from about 5 toabout 400 mg per day or 25 to 200 mg per day per adult. In certainembodiments, dose rates of from about 50 to about 500 mg per day arealso contemplated.

In further aspects, provided are methods of treating or preventing anHCV infection in a subject by administering, to a subject in needthereof, an effective amount of a compound provided herein, or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The amount of the compound orcomposition which will be effective in the prevention or treatment of adisorder or one or more symptoms thereof will vary with the nature andseverity of the disease or condition, and the route by which the activeingredient is administered. The frequency and dosage will also varyaccording to factors specific for each subject depending on the specifictherapy (e.g., therapeutic or prophylactic agents) administered, theseverity of the disorder, disease, or condition, the route ofadministration, as well as age, body, weight, response, and the pastmedical history of the subject. Effective doses may be extrapolated fromdose-response curves derived from in vitro or animal model test systems.

In certain embodiments, exemplary doses of a composition includemilligram or microgram amounts of the active compound per kilogram ofsubject or sample weight (e.g., about 10 micrograms per kilogram toabout 50 milligrams per kilogram, about 100 micrograms per kilogram toabout 25 milligrams per kilogram, or about 100 microgram per kilogram toabout 10 milligrams per kilogram). For compositions provided herein, incertain embodiments, the dosage administered to a subject is 0.140 mg/kgto 3 mg/kg of the subject's body weight, based on weight of the activecompound. In certain embodiments, the dosage administered to a subjectis between 0.20 mg/kg and 2.00 mg/kg, or between 0.30 mg/kg and 1.50mg/kg of the subject's body weight.

In certain embodiments, the recommended daily dose range of acomposition provided herein for the conditions described herein liewithin the range of from about 0.1 mg to about 1000 mg per day, given asa single once-a-day dose or as divided doses throughout a day. Incertain embodiments, the daily dose is administered twice daily inequally divided doses. In certain embodiments, a daily dose range shouldbe from about 10 mg to about 200 mg per day, in other embodiments,between about 10 mg and about 150 mg per day, in further embodiments,between about 25 and about 100 mg per day. It may be necessary to usedosages of the active ingredient outside the ranges disclosed herein insome cases, as will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.Furthermore, it is noted that the clinician or treating physician willknow how and when to interrupt, adjust, or terminate therapy inconjunction with subject response.

Different therapeutically effective amounts may be applicable fordifferent diseases and conditions, as will be readily known by those ofordinary skill in the art. Similarly, amounts sufficient to prevent,manage, treat or ameliorate such disorders, but insufficient to cause,or sufficient to reduce, adverse effects associated with the compositionprovided herein are also encompassed by the above described dosageamounts and dose frequency schedules. Further, when a subject isadministered multiple dosages of a composition provided herein, not allof the dosages need be the same. For example, the dosage administered tothe subject may be increased to improve the prophylactic or therapeuticeffect of the composition or it may be decreased to reduce one or moreside effects that a particular subject is experiencing.

In certain embodiment, the dosage of the composition provided herein,based on weight of the active compound, administered to prevent, treat,manage, or ameliorate a disorder, or one or more symptoms thereof in asubject is 0.1 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg, 2 mg/kg, 3 mg/kg, 4 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg, 6mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, or 15 mg/kg or more of a subject's body weight. Inanother embodiment, the dosage of the composition or a compositionprovided herein administered to prevent, treat, manage, or ameliorate adisorder, or one or more symptoms thereof in a subject is a unit dose of0.1 mg to 200 mg, 0.1 mg to 100 mg, 0.1 mg to 50 mg, 0.1 mg to 25 mg,0.1 mg to 20 mg, 0.1 mg to 15 mg, 0.1 mg to 10 mg, 0.1 mg to 7.5 mg, 0.1mg to 5 mg, 0.1 to 2.5 mg, 0.25 mg to 20 mg, 0.25 to 15 mg, 0.25 to 12mg, 0.25 to 10 mg, 0.25 mg to 7.5 mg, 0.25 mg to 5 mg, 0.5 mg to 2.5 mg,1 mg to 20 mg, 1 mg to 15 mg, 1 mg to 12 mg, 1 mg to 10 mg, 1 mg to 7.5mg, 1 mg to 5 mg, or 1 mg to 2.5 mg.

In certain embodiments, treatment or prevention can be initiated withone or more loading doses of a compound or composition provided hereinfollowed by one or more maintenance doses. In such embodiments, theloading dose can be, for instance, about 60 to about 400 mg per day, orabout 100 to about 200 mg per day for one day to five weeks. The loadingdose can be followed by one or more maintenance doses. In certainembodiments, each maintenance does is, independently, about from about10 mg to about 200 mg per day, between about 25 mg and about 150 mg perday, or between about 25 and about 80 mg per day. Maintenance doses canbe administered daily and can be administered as single doses, or asdivided doses.

In certain embodiments, a dose of a compound or composition providedherein can be administered to achieve a steady-state concentration ofthe active ingredient in blood or serum of the subject. The steady-stateconcentration can be determined by measurement according to techniquesavailable to those of skill or can be based on the physicalcharacteristics of the subject such as height, weight and age. Incertain embodiments, a sufficient amount of a compound or compositionprovided herein is administered to achieve a steady-state concentrationin blood or serum of the subject of from about 300 to about 4000 ng/mL,from about 400 to about 1600 ng/mL, or from about 600 to about 1200ng/mL In some embodiments, loading doses can be administered to achievesteady-state blood or serum concentrations of about 1200 to about 8000ng/mL, or about 2000 to about 4000 ng/mL for one to five days. Incertain embodiments, maintenance doses can be administered to achieve asteady-state concentration in blood or serum of the subject of fromabout 300 to about 4000 ng/mL, from about 400 to about 1600 ng/mL, orfrom about 600 to about 1200 ng/mL.

In certain embodiments, administration of the same composition may berepeated and the administrations may be separated by at least 1 day, 2days, 3 days, 5 days, 10 days, 15 days, 30 days, 45 days, 2 months, 75days, 3 months, or 6 months. In other embodiments, administration of thesame prophylactic or therapeutic agent may be repeated and theadministration may be separated by at least at least 1 day, 2 days, 3days, 5 days, 10 days, 15 days, 30 days, 45 days, 2 months, 75 days, 3months, or 6 months.

In certain aspects, provided herein are unit dosages comprising acompound, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in a formsuitable for administration. Such forms are described in detail above.In certain embodiments, the unit dosage comprises 1 to 1000 mg, 5 to 250mg or 10 to 50 mg active ingredient. In particular embodiments, the unitdosages comprise about 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 125, 250, 500 or 1000 mgactive ingredient. Such unit dosages can be prepared according totechniques familiar to those of skill in the art.

The dosages of the second agents are to be used in the combinationtherapies provided herein. In certain embodiments, dosages lower thanthose which have been or are currently being used to prevent or treatHCV infection are used in the combination therapies provided herein. Therecommended dosages of second agents can be obtained from the knowledgeof those of skill. For those second agents that are approved forclinical use, recommended dosages are described in, for example, Hardmanet al., eds., 1996, Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis ofBasis of Therapeutics 9^(th) Ed, Mc-Graw-Hill, New York; Physician'sDesk Reference (PDR) 57^(th) Ed., 2003, Medical Economics Co., Inc.,Montvale, N.J., which are incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

In various embodiments, the therapies (e.g., a compound provided hereinand the second agent) are administered less than 5 minutes apart, lessthan 30 minutes apart, 1 hour apart, at about 1 hour apart, at about 1to about 2 hours apart, at about 2 hours to about 3 hours apart, atabout 3 hours to about 4 hours apart, at about 4 hours to about 5 hoursapart, at about 5 hours to about 6 hours apart, at about 6 hours toabout 7 hours apart, at about 7 hours to about 8 hours apart, at about 8hours to about 9 hours apart, at about 9 hours to about 10 hours apart,at about 10 hours to about 11 hours apart, at about 11 hours to about 12hours apart, at about 12 hours to 18 hours apart, 18 hours to 24 hoursapart, 24 hours to 36 hours apart, 36 hours to 48 hours apart, 48 hoursto 52 hours apart, 52 hours to 60 hours apart, 60 hours to 72 hoursapart, 72 hours to 84 hours apart, 84 hours to 96 hours apart, or 96hours to 120 hours part. In various embodiments, the therapies areadministered no more than 24 hours apart or no more than 48 hours apart.In certain embodiments, two or more therapies are administered withinthe same patient visit. In other embodiments, the compound providedherein and the second agent are administered concurrently.

In other embodiments, the compound provided herein and the second agentare administered at about 2 to 4 days apart, at about 4 to 6 days apart,at about 1 week part, at about 1 to 2 weeks apart, or more than 2 weeksapart.

In certain embodiments, administration of the same agent may be repeatedand the administrations may be separated by at least 1 day, 2 days, 3days, 5 days, 10 days, 15 days, 30 days, 45 days, 2 months, 75 days, 3months, or 6 months. In other embodiments, administration of the sameagent may be repeated and the administration may be separated by atleast at least 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 5 days, 10 days, 15 days, 30 days,45 days, 2 months, 75 days, 3 months, or 6 months.

In certain embodiments, a compound provided herein and a second agentare administered to a patient, for example, a mammal, such as a human,in a sequence and within a time interval such that the compound providedherein can act together with the other agent to provide an increasedbenefit than if they were administered otherwise. For example, thesecond active agent can be administered at the same time or sequentiallyin any order at different points in time; however, if not administeredat the same time, they should be administered sufficiently close in timeso as to provide the desired therapeutic or prophylactic effect. Incertain embodiments, the compound provided herein and the second activeagent exert their effect at times which overlap. Each second activeagent can be administered separately, in any appropriate form and by anysuitable route. In other embodiments, the compound provided herein isadministered before, concurrently or after administration of the secondactive agent.

In certain embodiments, the compound provided herein and the secondagent are cyclically administered to a patient. Cycling therapy involvesthe administration of a first agent (e.g., a first prophylactic ortherapeutic agents) for a period of time, followed by the administrationof a second agent and/or third agent (e.g., a second and/or thirdprophylactic or therapeutic agents) for a period of time and repeatingthis sequential administration. Cycling therapy can reduce thedevelopment of resistance to one or more of the therapies, avoid orreduce the side effects of one of the therapies, and/or improve theefficacy of the treatment.

In certain embodiments, the compound provided herein and the secondactive agent are administered in a cycle of less than about 3 weeks,about once every two weeks, about once every 10 days or about once everyweek. One cycle can comprise the administration of a compound providedherein and the second agent by infusion over about 90 minutes everycycle, about 1 hour every cycle, about 45 minutes every cycle. Eachcycle can comprise at least 1 week of rest, at least 2 weeks of rest, atleast 3 weeks of rest. The number of cycles administered is from about 1to about 12 cycles, more typically from about 2 to about 10 cycles, andmore typically from about 2 to about 8 cycles.

In other embodiments, courses of treatment are administered concurrentlyto a patient, i.e., individual doses of the second agent areadministered separately yet within a time interval such that thecompound provided herein can work together with the second active agent.For example, one component can be administered once per week incombination with the other components that can be administered onceevery two weeks or once every three weeks. In other words, the dosingregimens are carried out concurrently even if the therapeutics are notadministered simultaneously or during the same day.

The second agent can act additively or synergistically with the compoundprovided herein. In certain embodiments, the compound provided herein isadministered concurrently with one or more second agents in the samepharmaceutical composition. In another embodiment, a compound providedherein is administered concurrently with one or more second agents inseparate pharmaceutical compositions. In still another embodiment, acompound provided herein is administered prior to or subsequent toadministration of a second agent. Also contemplated are administrationof a compound provided herein and a second agent by the same ordifferent routes of administration, e.g., oral and parenteral. Incertain embodiments, when the compound provided herein is administeredconcurrently with a second agent that potentially produces adverse sideeffects including, but not limited to, toxicity, the second active agentcan advantageously be administered at a dose that falls below thethreshold that the adverse side effect is elicited.

Kits

Also provided are kits for use in methods of treatment of a liverdisorder such as HCV infections. The kits can include a compound orcomposition provided herein, a second agent or composition, andinstructions providing information to a health care provider regardingusage for treating the disorder. Instructions may be provided in printedform or in the form of an electronic medium such as a floppy disc, CD,or DVD, or in the form of a website address where such instructions maybe obtained. A unit dose of a compound or composition provided herein,or a second agent or composition, can include a dosage such that whenadministered to a subject, a therapeutically or prophylacticallyeffective plasma level of the compound or composition can be maintainedin the subject for at least 1 days. In some embodiments, a compound orcomposition can be included as a sterile aqueous pharmaceuticalcomposition or dry powder (e.g., lyophilized) composition.

In some embodiments, suitable packaging is provided. As used herein,“packaging” includes a solid matrix or material customarily used in asystem and capable of holding within fixed limits a compound providedherein and/or a second agent suitable for administration to a subject.Such materials include glass and plastic (e.g., polyethylene,polypropylene, and polycarbonate) bottles, vials, paper, plastic, andplastic-foil laminated envelopes and the like. If e-beam sterilizationtechniques are employed, the packaging should have sufficiently lowdensity to permit sterilization of the contents.

Methods of Use

In certain embodiments, provided herein are methods for the treatmentand/or prophylaxis of a host infected with Flaviviridae that includesthe administration of an effective amount of a compounds providedherein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. In certainembodiments, provided herein are methods for treating an HCV infectionin a subject. In certain embodiments, the methods encompass the step ofadministering to the subject in need thereof an amount of a compoundeffective for the treatment or prevention of an HCV infection incombination with a second agent effective for the treatment orprevention of the infection. The compound can be any compound asdescribed herein, and the second agent can be any second agent describedin the art or herein. In certain embodiments, the compound is in theform of a pharmaceutical composition or dosage form, as describedelsewhere herein.

Flaviviridae that can be treated are discussed generally in FieldsVirology, Editors: Fields, B. N., Knipe, D. M., and Howley, P. M.,Lippincott-Raven Publishers, Philadelphia, Pa., Chapter 31, 1996. In aparticular embodiment of the invention, the Flaviviridae is HCV. In analternate embodiment of the invention, the Flaviviridae is a flavivirusor pestivirus. Specific flaviviruses include, without limitation:Absettarov, Alfuy, Apoi, Aroa, Bagaza, Banzi, Bouboui, Bussuquara,Cacipacore, Carey Island, Dakar bat, Dengue 1, Dengue 2, Dengue 3,Dengue 4, Edge Hill, Entebbe bat, Gadgets Gully, Hanzalova, Hypr,Ilheus, Israel turkey meningoencephalitis, Japanese encephalitis, Jugra,Jutiapa, Kadam, Karshi, Kedougou, Kokobera, Koutango, Kumlinge, Kunjin,Kyasanur Forest disease, Langat, Louping ill, Meaban, Modoc, Montanamyotis leukoencephalitis, Murray valley encephalitis, Naranj al,Negishi, Ntaya, Omsk hemorrhagic fever, Phnom-Penh bat, Powassan, RioBravo, Rocio, Royal Farm, Russian spring-summer encephalitis, Saboya,St. Louis encephalitis, Sal Vieja, San Perlita, Saumarez Reef, Sepik,Sokuluk, Spondweni, Stratford, Tembusu, Tyuleniy, Uganda S, Usutu,Wesselsbron, West Nile, Yaounde, Yellow fever, and Zika.

Pestiviruses that can be treated are discussed generally in FieldsVirology, Editors: Fields, B. N., Knipe, D. M., and Howley, P. M.,Lippincott-Raven Publishers, Philadelphia, Pa., Chapter 33, 1996.Specific pestiviruses include, without limitation: bovine viral diarrheavirus (“BVDV”), classical swine fever virus (“CSFV,” also called hogcholera virus), and border disease virus (“BDV”).

In certain embodiments, the subject can be any subject infected with, orat risk for infection with, HCV. Infection or risk for infection can bedetermined according to any technique deemed suitable by thepractitioner of skill in the art. In certain embodiments, subjects arehumans infected with HCV.

In certain embodiments, the subject has never received therapy orprophylaxis for an HCV infection. In further embodiments, the subjecthas previously received therapy or prophylaxis for an HCV infection. Forinstance, in certain embodiments, the subject has not responded to anHCV therapy. For example, under current interferon therapy, up to 50% ormore HCV subjects do not respond to therapy. In certain embodiments, thesubject can be a subject that received therapy but continued to sufferfrom viral infection or one or more symptoms thereof. In certainembodiments, the subject can be a subject that received therapy butfailed to achieve a sustained virologic response. In certainembodiments, the subject has received therapy for an HCV infection buthas failed to show, for example, a 2 log₁₀ decline in HCV RNA levelsafter 12 weeks of therapy. It is believed that subjects who have notshown more than 2 log₁₀ reduction in serum HCV RNA after 12 weeks oftherapy have a 97-100% chance of not responding.

In certain embodiments, the subject is a subject that discontinued anHCV therapy because of one or more adverse events associated with thetherapy. In certain embodiments, the subject is a subject where currenttherapy is not indicated. For instance, certain therapies for HCV areassociated with neuropsychiatric events. Interferon (IFN)-alfa plusribavirin is associated with a high rate of depression. Depressivesymptoms have been linked to a worse outcome in a number of medicaldisorders. Life-threatening or fatal neuropsychiatric events, includingsuicide, suicidal and homicidal ideation, depression, relapse of drugaddiction/overdose, and aggressive behavior have occurred in subjectswith and without a previous psychiatric disorder during HCV therapy.Interferon-induced depression is a limitation for the treatment ofchronic hepatitis C, especially for subjects with psychiatric disorders.Psychiatric side effects are common with interferon therapy andresponsible for about 10% to 20% of discontinuations of current therapyfor HCV infection.

Accordingly, provided are methods of treating or preventing an HCVinfection in subjects where the risk of neuropsychiatric events, such asdepression, contraindicates treatment with current HCV therapy. Incertain embodiments, provided are methods of treating or preventing HCVinfection in subjects where a neuropsychiatric event, such asdepression, or risk of such indicates discontinuation of treatment withcurrent HCV therapy. Further provided are methods of treating orpreventing HCV infection in subjects where a neuropsychiatric event,such as depression, or risk of such indicates dose reduction of currentHCV therapy.

Current therapy is also contraindicated in subjects that arehypersensitive to interferon or ribavirin, or both, or any othercomponent of a pharmaceutical product for administration of interferonor ribavirin. Current therapy is not indicated in subjects withhemoglobinopathies (e.g., thalassemia major, sickle-cell anemia) andother subjects at risk from the hematologic side effects of currenttherapy. Common hematologic side effects include bone marrowsuppression, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. Furthermore, ribavirin istoxic to red blood cells and is associated with hemolysis. Accordingly,in certain embodiments, provided are methods of treating or preventingHCV infection in subjects hypersensitive to interferon or ribavirin, orboth, subjects with a hemoglobinopathy, for instance thalassemia majorsubjects and sickle-cell anemia subjects, and other subjects at riskfrom the hematologic side effects of current therapy.

In certain embodiments, the subject has received an HCV therapy anddiscontinued that therapy prior to administration of a method providedherein. In further embodiments, the subject has received therapy andcontinues to receive that therapy along with administration of a methodprovided herein. The methods can be co-administered with other therapyfor HBC and/or HCV according to the judgment of one of skill in the art.In certain embodiments, the methods or compositions provided herein canbe co-administered with a reduced dose of the other therapy for HBCand/or HCV.

In certain embodiments, provided are methods of treating a subject thatis refractory to treatment with interferon. For instance, in someembodiments, the subject can be a subject that has failed to respond totreatment with one or more agents selected from the group consisting ofinterferon, interferon α, pegylated interferon α, interferon plusribavirin, interferon α plus ribavirin and pegylated interferon α plusribavirin. In some embodiments, the subject can be a subject that hasresponded poorly to treatment with one or more agents selected from thegroup consisting of interferon, interferon α, pegylated interferon α,interferon plus ribavirin, interferon α plus ribavirin and pegylatedinterferon α plus ribavirin. A pro-drug form of ribavirin, such astaribavirin, may also be used.

In certain embodiments, the subject has, or is at risk for, co-infectionof HCV with HIV. For instance, in the United States, 30% of HIV subjectsare co-infected with HCV and evidence indicates that people infectedwith HIV have a much more rapid course of their hepatitis C infection.Maier and Wu, 2002, World J Gastroenterol 8:577-57. The methods providedherein can be used to treat or prevent HCV infection in such subjects.It is believed that elimination of HCV in these subjects will lowermortality due to end-stage liver disease. Indeed, the risk ofprogressive liver disease is higher in subjects with severeAIDS-defining immunodeficiency than in those without. See, e.g., Lesenset al., 1999, J Infect Dis 179:1254-1258. In certain embodiments,compounds provided herein have been shown to suppress HIV in HIVsubjects. Thus, in certain embodiments, provided are methods of treatingor preventing HIV infection and HCV infection in subjects in needthereof.

In certain embodiments, the compounds or compositions are administeredto a subject following liver transplant. Hepatitis C is a leading causeof liver transplantation in the U.S., and many subjects that undergoliver transplantation remain HCV positive following transplantation. Incertain embodiments, provided are methods of treating such recurrent HCVsubjects with a compound or composition provided herein. In certainembodiments, provided are methods of treating a subject before, duringor following liver transplant to prevent recurrent HCV infection.

Assay Methods

Compounds can be assayed for HCV activity according to any assay knownto those of skill in the art.

Further, compounds can be assayed for accumulation in liver cells of asubject according to any assay known to those of skill in the art. Incertain embodiments, a compound can be administered to the subject, anda liver cell of the subject can be assayed for the compound or aderivative thereof, e.g. a nucleoside, nucleoside phosphate ornucleoside triphosphate derivative thereof.

In certain embodiments, a substituted 3′,5′-cyclic phosphate purinenucleotide compound is administered to cells, such as liver cells, invivo or in vitro, and the nucleoside triphosphate levels deliveredintracellularly are measured, to indicate delivery of the compound andtriphosphorylation in the cell. The levels of intracellular nucleosidetriphosphate can be measured using analytical techniques known in theart. Methods of detecting ddATP are described herein below by way ofexample, but other nucleoside triphosphates can be readily detectedusing the appropriate controls, calibration samples and assaytechniques.

In certain embodiments, ddATP concentrations are measured in a sample bycomparison to calibration standards made from control samples. The ddATPconcentrations in a sample can be measured using an analytical methodsuch as HPLC LC MS. In certain embodiments, a test sample is compared toa calibration curve created with known concentrations of ddATP tothereby obtain the concentration of that sample.

In certain embodiments, the samples are manipulated to remove impuritiessuch as salts (Na⁺, K⁺, etc.) before analysis. In certain embodiments,the lower limit of quantitation is about ˜0.2 pmol/mL for hepatocytecellular extracts particularly where reduced salt is present.

In certain embodiments, the method allows successfully measuringtriphosphate nucleotides formed at levels of 1-10,000 pmol per millioncells in e.g. cultured hepatocytes and HepG2 cells.

Second Therapeutic Agents

In certain embodiments, the compounds and compositions provided hereinare useful in methods of treatment of a liver disorder, that comprisesfurther administration of a second agent effective for the treatment ofthe disorder, such as HCV infection in a subject in need thereof. Thesecond agent can be any agent known to those of skill in the art to beeffective for the treatment of the disorder, including those currentlyapproved by the FDA.

In certain embodiments, a compound provided herein is administered incombination with one second agent. In further embodiments, a secondagent is administered in combination with two second agents. In stillfurther embodiments, a second agent is administered in combination withtwo or more second agents.

As used herein, the term “in combination” includes the use of more thanone therapy (e.g., one or more prophylactic and/or therapeutic agents).The use of the term “in combination” does not restrict the order inwhich therapies (e.g., prophylactic and/or therapeutic agents) areadministered to a subject with a disorder. A first therapy (e.g., aprophylactic or therapeutic agent such as a compound provided herein)can be administered prior to (e.g., 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes,45 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, 48hours, 72 hours, 96 hours, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 5 weeks, 6weeks, 8 weeks, or 12 weeks before), concomitantly with, or subsequentto (e.g., 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 1 hour, 2hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, 96hours, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 5 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks, or12 weeks after) the administration of a second therapy (e.g., aprophylactic or therapeutic agent) to a subject with a disorder.

As used herein, the term “synergistic” includes a combination of acompound provided herein and another therapy (e.g., a prophylactic ortherapeutic agent) which has been or is currently being used to prevent,manage or treat a disorder, which is more effective than the additiveeffects of the therapies. A synergistic effect of a combination oftherapies (e.g., a combination of prophylactic or therapeutic agents)permits the use of lower dosages of one or more of the therapies and/orless frequent administration of said therapies to a subject with adisorder. The ability to utilize lower dosages of a therapy (e.g., aprophylactic or therapeutic agent) and/or to administer said therapyless frequently reduces the toxicity associated with the administrationof said therapy to a subject without reducing the efficacy of saidtherapy in the prevention or treatment of a disorder). In addition, asynergistic effect can result in improved efficacy of agents in theprevention or treatment of a disorder. Finally, a synergistic effect ofa combination of therapies (e.g., a combination of prophylactic ortherapeutic agents) may avoid or reduce adverse or unwanted side effectsassociated with the use of either therapy alone.

The active compounds provided herein can be administered in combinationor alternation with another therapeutic agent, in particular an anti-HCVagent. In combination therapy, effective dosages of two or more agentsare administered together, whereas in alternation or sequential-steptherapy, an effective dosage of each agent is administered serially orsequentially. The dosages given will depend on absorption, inactivationand excretion rates of the drug as well as other factors known to thoseof skill in the art. It is to be noted that dosage values will also varywith the severity of the condition to be alleviated. It is to be furtherunderstood that for any particular subject, specific dosage regimens andschedules should be adjusted over time according to the individual needand the professional judgment of the person administering or supervisingthe administration of the compositions. In certain embodiments, ananti-HCV (or anti-pestivirus or anti-flavivirus) compound that exhibitsan EC₅₀ of 10-15 μM. In certain embodiments, less than 1-5 μM, isdesirable.

It has been recognized that drug-resistant variants of flaviviruses,pestiviruses or HCV can emerge after prolonged treatment with anantiviral agent. Drug resistance most typically occurs by mutation of agene that encodes for an enzyme used in viral replication. The efficacyof a drug against the viral infection can be prolonged, augmented, orrestored by administering the compound in combination or alternationwith a second, and perhaps third, antiviral compound that induces adifferent mutation from that caused by the principle drug.Alternatively, the pharmacokinetics, biodistribution or other parameterof the drug can be altered by such combination or alternation therapy.In general, combination therapy is typically preferred over alternationtherapy because it induces multiple simultaneous stresses on the virus.

Any of the viral treatments described in the Background of the Inventioncan be used in combination or alternation with the compounds describedin this specification.

Nonlimiting Examples of Second Agents Include:

HCV Protease inhibitors: Examples include Medivir HCV Protease Inhibitor(HCV-PI or TMC435) (Medivir/Tibotec); MK-7009 (Merck), RG7227 (ITMN-191)(Roche/Pharmasset/InterMune), boceprevir (SCH 503034) (Schering), SCH446211 (Schering), narlaprevir SCH900518 (Schering/Merck), ABT-450(Abbott/Enanta), ACH-1625 (Achillion), BI 201335 (Boehringer Ingelheim),PHX1766 (Phenomix), VX-500 (Vertex) and telaprevir (VX-950) (Vertex).Further examples of protease inhibitors include substrate-based NS3protease inhibitors (Attwood et al., Antiviral peptide derivatives, PCTWO 98/22496, 1998; Attwood et al., Antiviral Chemistry and Chemotherapy1999, 10, 259-273; Attwood et al., Preparation and use of amino acidderivatives as anti-viral agents, German Patent Pub. DE 19914474; Tunget al., Inhibitors of serine proteases, particularly hepatitis C virusNS3 protease, PCT WO 98/17679), including alphaketoamides andhydrazinoureas, and inhibitors that terminate in an electrophile such asa boronic acid or phosphonate (Llinas-Brunet et al, Hepatitis Cinhibitor peptide analogues, PCT WO 99/07734); Non-substrate-based NS3protease inhibitors such as 2,4,6-trihydroxy-3-nitro-benzamidederivatives (Sudo K. et al., Biochemical and Biophysical ResearchCommunications, 1997, 238, 643-647; Sudo K. et al., Antiviral Chemistryand Chemotherapy, 1998, 9, 186), including RD3-4082 and RD3-4078, theformer substituted on the amide with a 14 carbon chain and the latterprocessing a para-phenoxyphenyl group; and Sch 68631, aphenanthrenequinone, an HCV protease inhibitor (Chu M. et al.,Tetrahedron Letters 37:7229-7232, 1996).

SCH 351633, isolated from the fungus Penicillium griseofulvum, wasidentified as a protease inhibitor (Chu M. et al., Bioorganic andMedicinal Chemistry Letters 9:1949-1952). Eglin c, isolated from leech,is a potent inhibitor of several serine proteases such as S. griseusproteases A and B, α-chymotrypsin, chymase and subtilisin. Qasim M. A.et al., Biochemistry 36:1598-1607, 1997.

U.S. patents disclosing protease inhibitors for the treatment of HCVinclude, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,004,933 to Spruce et al., whichdiscloses a class of cysteine protease inhibitors for inhibiting HCVendopeptidase 2; U.S. Pat. No. 5,990,276 to Zhang et al., whichdiscloses synthetic inhibitors of hepatitis C virus NS3 protease; U.S.Pat. No. 5,538,865 to Reyes et a; WO 02/008251 to Corvas International,Inc., and U.S. Pat. No. 7,169,760, US2005/176648, WO 02/08187 and WO02/008256 to Schering Corporation. HCV inhibitor tripeptides aredisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,534,523, 6,410,531, and 6,420,380 toBoehringer Ingelheim and WO 02/060926 to Bristol Myers Squibb. Diarylpeptides as NS3 serine protease inhibitors of HCV are disclosed in WO02/48172 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,911,428 to Schering Corporation.Imidazoleidinones as NS3 serine protease inhibitors of HCV are disclosedin WO 02/08198 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,838,475 to Schering Corporation andWO 02/48157 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,727,366 to Bristol Myers Squibb. WO98/17679 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,265,380 to Vertex Pharmaceuticals and WO02/48116 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,653,295 to Bristol Myers Squibb alsodisclose HCV protease inhibitors. Further examples of HCV serineprotease inhibitors are provided in U.S. Pat. No. 6,872,805(Bristol-Myers Squibb); WO 2006000085 (Boehringer Ingelheim); U.S. Pat.No. 7,208,600 (Vertex); US 2006/0046956 (Schering-Plough); WO2007/001406 (Chiron); US 2005/0153877; WO 2006/119061 (Merck); WO00/09543 (Boehringer Ingelheim), U.S. Pat. No. 6,323,180 (BoehringerIngelheim) WO 03/064456 (Boehringer Ingelheim), U.S. Pat. No. 6,642,204(Boehringer Ingelheim), WO 03/064416 (Boehringer Ingelheim), U.S. Pat.No. 7,091,184 (Boehringer Ingelheim), WO 03/053349 (Bristol-MyersSquibb), U.S. Pat. No. 6,867,185, WO 03/099316 (Bristol-Myers Squibb),U.S. Pat. No. 6,869,964, WO 03/099274 (Bristol-Myers Squibb), U.S. Pat.No. 6,995,174, WO 2004/032827 (Bristol-Myers Squibb), U.S. Pat. No.7,041,698, WO 2004/043339 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,878,722 (Bristol-MyersSquibb).

Thiazolidine derivatives which show relevant inhibition in areverse-phase HPLC assay with an NS3/4A fusion protein and NS5A/5Bsubstrate (Sudo K. et al., Antiviral Research, 1996, 32, 9-18),especially compound RD-1-6250, possessing a fused cinnamoyl moietysubstituted with a long alkyl chain, RD4 6205 and RD4 6193;

Thiazolidines and benzanilides identified in Kakiuchi N. et al., J. EBSLetters 421, 217-220; Takeshita N. et al., Analytical Biochemistry,1997, 247, 242-246;

A phenanthrenequinone possessing activity against protease in a SDS-PAGEand autoradiography assay isolated from the fermentation culture brothof Streptomyces sp., SCH 68631 (Chu M. et al., Tetrahedron Letters,1996, 37, 7229-7232), and SCH 351633, isolated from the fungusPenicillium griseofulvum, which demonstrates activity in a scintillationproximity assay (Chu M. et al., Bioorganic and Medicinal ChemistryLetters 9, 1949-1952);

Helicase inhibitors (Diana G. D. et al., Compounds, compositions andmethods for treatment of hepatitis C, U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,358; Diana G.D. et al., Piperidine derivatives, pharmaceutical compositions thereofand their use in the treatment of hepatitis C, PCT WO 97/36554);

HCV polymerase inhibitors, including nucleoside and non-nucleosidepolymerase inhibitors, such as ribavirin, viramidine, clemizole,filibuvir (PF-00868554), HCV POL, NM 283 (valopicitabine), MK-0608,7-Fluoro-MK-0608, MK-3281, IDX-375, ABT-072, ABT-333, ANA598, BI 207127,GS 9190, PSI-6130, R1626, PSI-6206, PSI-938, PSI-7851, PSI-7977, RG1479,RG7128, HCV-796 VCH-759 or VCH-916.

Gliotoxin (Ferrari R. et al., Journal of Virology, 1999, 73, 1649-1654),and the natural product cerulenin (Lohmann V. et al., Virology, 1998,249, 108-118);

Interfering RNA (iRNA) based antivirals, including short interfering RNA(siRNA) based antivirals, such as Sirna-034 and others described inInternational Patent Publication Nos. WO/03/070750 and WO 2005/012525,and US Patent Publication No. US 2004/0209831.

Antisense phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides (S-ODN) complementaryto sequence stretches in the 5′ non-coding region (NCR) of the virus(Alt M. et al., Hepatology, 1995, 22, 707-717), or nucleotides 326-348comprising the 3′ end of the NCR and nucleotides 371-388 located in thecore coding region of the HCV RNA (Alt M. et al., Archives of Virology,1997, 142, 589-599; Galderisi U. et al., Journal of Cellular Physiology,1999, 181, 251-257);

Inhibitors of IRES-dependent translation (Ikeda N et al., Agent for theprevention and treatment of hepatitis C, Japanese Patent Pub.JP-08268890; Kai Y. et al., Prevention and treatment of viral diseases,Japanese Patent Pub. JP-10101591);

HCV entry inhibitors, such as celgosivir (MK-3253) (MIGENIX Inc.), SP-30(Samaritan Pharmaceuticals), ITX4520 (iTherX), ITX5061 (iTherX), PRO-206(Progenics Pharmaceuticals) and other entry inhibitors by ProgenicsPharmaceuticals, e.g., as disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No.2006/0198855.

Ribozymes, such as nuclease-resistant ribozymes (Maccjak, D. J. et al.,Hepatology 1999, 30, abstract 995) and those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.6,043,077 to Barber et al., and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,869,253 and 5,610,054to Draper et al.; and

Nucleoside analogs have also been developed for the treatment ofFlaviviridae infections.

In certain embodiments, the compounds provided herein can beadministered in combination with any of the compounds described byIdenix Pharmaceuticals in International Publication Nos. WO 01/90121, WO01/92282, WO 2004/003000, 2004/002422 and WO 2004/002999.

Other patent applications disclosing the use of certain nucleosideanalogs that can be used as second agents to treat hepatitis C virusinclude: PCT/CA00/01316 (WO 01/32153; filed Nov. 3, 2000) andPCT/CA01/00197 (WO 01/60315; filed Feb. 19, 2001) filed by BioChemPharma, Inc. (now Shire Biochem, Inc.); PCT/US02/01531 (WO 02/057425;filed Jan. 18, 2002); PCT/US02/03086 (WO 02/057287; filed Jan. 18,2002); U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,202,224; 7,125,855; 7,105,499 and 6,777,395 byMerck & Co., Inc.; PCT/EP01/09633 (WO 02/18404; published Aug. 21,2001); US 2006/0040890; 2005/0038240; 2004/0121980; U.S. Pat. Nos.6,846,810; 6,784,166 and 6,660,721 by Roche; PCT Publication Nos. WO01/79246 (filed Apr. 13, 2001), WO 02/32920 (filed Oct. 18, 2001) and WO02/48165; US 2005/0009737; US 2005/0009737; U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,094,770 and6,927,291 by Pharmasset, Ltd.

Further compounds that can be used as second agents to treat hepatitis Cvirus are disclosed in PCT Publication No. WO 99/43691 to EmoryUniversity, entitled “2′-Fluoronucleosides”. The use of certain2′-fluoronucleosides to treat HCV is disclosed.

Other miscellaneous compounds that can be used as second agents include1-amino-alkylcyclohexanes (U.S. Pat. No. 6,034,134 to Gold et al.),alkyl lipids (U.S. Pat. No. 5,922,757 to Chojkier et al.), vitamin E andother antioxidants (U.S. Pat. No. 5,922,757 to Chojkier et al.),squalene, amantadine, bile acids (U.S. Pat. No. 5,846,964 to Ozeki etal.), N-(phosphonoacetyl)-L-aspartic acid, (U.S. Pat. No. 5,830,905 toDiana et al.), benzenedicarboxamides (U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,388 to Dianaet al.), polyadenylic acid derivatives (U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,546 to Wanget al.), 2′,3′-dideoxyinosine (U.S. Pat. No. 5,026,687 to Yarchoan etal.), benzimidazoles (U.S. Pat. No. 5,891,874 to Colacino et al.), plantextracts (U.S. Pat. No. 5,837,257 to Tsai et al., U.S. Pat. No.5,725,859 to Omer et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 6,056,961), and piperidenes(U.S. Pat. No. 5,830,905 to Diana et al.).

Exemplary Second Therapeutic Agents for Treatment of HCV

In certain embodiments, one or more compounds provided herein can beadministered in combination or alternation with an anti-hepatitis Cvirus interferon, such as Intron A® (interferon alfa-2b) and Pegasys®(Peginterferon alfa-2a); Roferon A® (Recombinant interferon alfa-2a),Infergen® (consensus interferon; interferon alfacon-1), PEG-Intron®(pegylated interferon alfa-2b) and Pegasys® (pegylated interferonalfa-2a).

In certain embodiments, the anti-hepatitis C virus interferon isinfergen, IL-29 (PEG-Interferon lambda), R7025 (Maxy-alpha), Belerofon,Oral Interferon alpha, BLX-883 (Locteron), omega interferon, multiferon,medusa interferon, Albuferon or REBIF®.

In certain embodiments, one or more compounds provided herein can beadministered in combination or alternation with an anti-hepatitis Cvirus polymerase inhibitor, such as ribavirin, viramidine, HCV POL, NM283 (valopicitabine), MK-0608, 7-Fluoro-MK-0608, PSI-6130, R1626,PSI-6206, PSI-938, R1479, HCV-796 or R7128.

In certain embodiments, the one or more compounds provided herein can beadministered in combination with ribavarin and an anti-hepatitis C virusinterferon, such as Intron A® (interferon alfa-2b) and Pegasys®(Peginterferon alfa-2a); Roferon A® (Recombinant interferon alfa-2a),Infergen® (consensus interferon; interferon alfacon-1), PEG-Intron®(pegylated interferon alfa-2b) and Pegasys® (pegylated interferonalfa-2a).

In certain embodiments, one or more compounds provided herein can beadministered in combination or alternation with an anti-hepatitis Cvirus protease inhibitor such as ITMN-191, SCH 503034 (bocepravir),VX950 (telaprevir) or Medivir HCV Protease Inhibitor.

In certain embodiments, one or more compounds provided herein can beadministered in combination or alternation with an anti-hepatitis Cvirus vaccine, such as TG4040, PeviPRO™, CGI-5005, HCV/MF59, GV1001,IC41 or INNO0101 (E1).

In certain embodiments, one or more compounds provided herein can beadministered in combination or alternation with an anti-hepatitis Cvirus monoclonal antibody, such as AB68 or XTL-6865 (formerly HepX-C);or an anti-hepatitis C virus polyclonal antibody, such as cicavir.

In certain embodiments, one or more compounds provided herein can beadministered in combination or alternation with an anti-hepatitis Cvirus immunomodulator, such as Zadaxin® (thymalfasin), NOV-205 orOglufanide.

In certain embodiments, one or more compounds provided herein can beadministered in combination or alternation with Nexavar, doxorubicin,PI-88, amantadine, JBK-122, VGX-410C, MX-3253 (Ceglosivir), Suvus(BIVN-401 or virostat), PF-03491390 (formerly IDN-6556), G126270,UT-231B, DEBIO-025, EMZ702, ACH-0137171, MitoQ, ANA975, AVI-4065,Bavituxinab (Tarvacin), Alinia (nitrazoxanide) or PYN17.

EXAMPLES

As used herein, the symbols and conventions used in these processes,schemes and examples, regardless of whether a particular abbreviation isspecifically defined, are consistent with those used in the contemporaryscientific literature, for example, the Journal of the American ChemicalSociety or the Journal of Biological Chemistry. Specifically, butwithout limitation, the following abbreviations may be used in theexamples and throughout the specification: g (grams); mg (milligrams);mL (milliliters); μL (microliters); mM (millimolar); μM (micromolar); Hz(Hertz); MHz (megahertz); mmol (millimoles); hr or hrs (hours); min(minutes); MS (mass spectrometry); ESI (electrospray ionization); TLC(thin layer chromatography); HPLC (high pressure liquid chromatography);THF (tetrahydrofuran); CDCl₃ (deuterated chloroform); AcOH (aceticacid); DCM (dichloromethane); DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide); DMSO-d₆(deuterated dimethylsulfoxide); EtOAc (ethyl acetate); MeOH (methanol);and BOC (t-butyloxycarbonyl).

For all of the following examples, standard work-up and purificationmethods known to those skilled in the art can be utilized. Unlessotherwise indicated, all temperatures are expressed in ° C. (degreesCentigrade). All reactions are conducted at room temperature unlessotherwise noted. Synthetic methodologies illustrated herein are intendedto exemplify the applicable chemistry through the use of specificexamples and are not indicative of the scope of the disclosure.

Intermediate Example 1 Preparation of Intermediate 1

To a solution of bis(diisopropylamino)chlorophosphine (Aldrich) (5 g, 1eq) in Et₂O (100 ml) was added Et₃N (7.7 ml, 2 eq). The reaction mixturewas cooled down to 0° C. and isopropanol (8.4 ml, 4 eq) was added. Themixture was stirred at room temperature under nitrogen during 4 hours.The reaction mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentratedunder reduced pressure to give the expected intermediate as colorlessoil in quantitative yield. ³¹P NMR (DMSO-d₆, 162 MHz) δ (ppm) 114.95 (s,1P).

Example 1 Preparation of Compounds 1, 1a and 1b

2-(2-amino-6-ethoxy-purin-9-yl)-5-hydroxymethyl-3-methyl-tetrahydrofuran-3,4-diol(3 g, 1 eq) was dissolved in pyridine (60 ml) and tetrazole 0.45M inacetonitrile (Aldrich) (60 ml) was added. The reaction mixture wascooled down to 0° C. and intermediate 1 (4 g, 1.5 eq) was added. Thereaction mixture was stirred at room temperature during 3 hours. tBuOOH(4.6 ml, 2.75 eq) was added at room temperature and the mixture wasstirred again during 3 hours. The solvent was removed under reducedpressure and the crude was purified several times by chromatography on asilica gel column and RP18 chromatography to give the purediastereoisomers.

Compound 1=mixture of diastereomers 1 and 2.

Compound 1a=Diastereoisomer 1:

The purification gave the expected compound as a white solid in 6%yield. ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆, 400 MHz) δ (ppm) 0.94 (s, 3H), 1.30 (t, J=6.32Hz, 6H), 1.35 (t, J=7.07 Hz, 3H), 4.34-4.42 (m, 1H), 4.43 (t, J=7.07 Hz,2H), 4.60-4.67 (m, 3H), 5.93 (s, 1H), 6 (s, 1H), 6.51 (s, 2H), 8.14 (s,1H); ³¹P NMR (CDCl₃, 162 MHz) δ (ppm) −5.14 (s, 1P); MS (ESI, EI⁺)m/z=430 (MH⁺); Retention time=4.86 minutes (column=Chromolith RP18e,100×4.6 mm; eluent=H₂O/CH₃OH, method=0 to 95% CH₃OH in 7.20 minutes(flow=3 ml/min)).

Compound 1b=Diastereoisomer 2:

The purification gave the expected compound as a white solid in 1%yield. ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆, 400 MHz) δ (ppm) 0.91 (s, 3H), 1.32-1.37 (m,9H), 4.18-4.24 (m, 1H), 4.44 (t, J=7 Hz, 2H), 4.56-4.66 (m, 3H), 5.92(s, 1H), 6.09 (s, 1H), 6.42 (brs, 2H), 8.12 (s, 1H); ³¹P NMR (CDCl₃, 162MHz) δ (ppm)-6.98 (s, 1P); MS (ESI, EI⁺) m/z=430 (MH⁺); Retentiontime=4.77 minutes (column=Chromolith RP18e, 100×4.6 mm;eluent=H₂O/CH₃OH, method=0 to 95% CH₃OH in 7.20 minutes (flow=3ml/min)).

Example 2 HCV Replicon Assay

Huh-7-derived cell line (Zluc) that harbors an HCV genotype 1b repliconand a luciferase reporter gene was grown in Dulbecco's Modified EagleMedium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, 2 mM GlutaMAX,1% MEM nonessential amino acids, 100 IU/mL penicillin, 100 μg/mLstreptomycin, and 0.5 mg/mL Geneticin® (G418). For dose response testingthe cells were seeded in 96-well plates at 7.5×10³ cells per well in avolume of 50 pt, and incubated at 37° C./5% CO₂. Drug solutions weremade up freshly in Huh-7 media as 2× stocks. Ten additional 5-folddilutions were prepared from these stocks in DMEM without G418. At leastthree hours after Zluc cells were seeded, drug treatment was initiatedby adding 50 μL of drug dilutions to the plates in duplicate. Finalconcentrations of drug ranged from 100 μM to 0.0000512 μM. Cells werethen incubated at 37° C./5% CO₂. Alternatively, compounds were tested attwo concentrations (1 μM and 10 μM). In all cases, Huh-7 (which do notharbors the HCV replicon) served as negative control. After 72 hours ofincubation, the inhibition of HCV replication was measured byquantification of photons emitted after mono-oxygenation of5′-fluoroluciferin to oxyfluoroluciferin by firefly luciferase. Forthis, media was removed from the plates via gentle tapping. Fiftymicroliters of ONE-glo luciferase assay reagent was added to each well.The plates were shaken gently for 3 min at room temperature andluminescence was measured on a Victor³ V 1420 multilabel counter (PerkinElmer) with a 1 second read time using a 700 nm cut-off filter. The EC₅₀values were calculated from dose response curves from the resultingbest-fit equations determined by Microsoft Excel and XLfit 4.1 software.When screening at two fixed concentrations, the results were expressedas % inhibition at 1 μM and 10 μM.

For cytotoxicity evaluation, Zluc cells were treated with compound asdescribed above, and cell viability was monitored using theCellTiter-Blue Cell Viability Assay (Promega) by adding 20 μL of theassay solution to each well. The plates were then incubated at 37° C./5%CO₂ for at least 3 hours. Fluorescence was detected in plates usingexcitation and emission wavelengths of 560 and 590 nm, respectively, ina Victor³ V 1420 multilabel counter (Perkin Elmer) and CC₅₀ values weredetermined using Microsoft Excel and XLfit 4.1 software.

Compounds presented in Table 1 below were assayed according to thereplicon assay described above.

TABLE 1 HCV Replicon Activity Compound HCV Replicon Reference EC₅₀ CC₅₀Compound 1a: ++++ + Compound 1b: ++ + EC₅₀ is provided as follows: ++++≦ 250 nM, 250 nM < +++ ≦ 1 μM, l μM < ++ ≦ 10 μM, and + > 10 μM CC₅₀ isprovided as follows: ++ ≦ 50 μM, + > 50 μM

Compound 1a showed a selectivity index greater than 100 and itsdiastereomer (compound 1b) showed a selectivity index greater than 80.

Example 3 Stability Assays

Abbreviations:

HLM=Human liver microsome; HIM=Human intestinal microsome; HLS9=Humanliver S9 fraction; HIS9=Human liver S9 fraction; WB_H=Human whole blood;WB_M=Mouse whole blood; SGF=Simulated gastric fluid; SIF=Simulatedintestinal fluid.

Stability in Simulated Gastric and Intestinal Fluids:

Simulated gastric and intestinal fluids containing pepsin and pancreatinrespectively were prepared according to the U.S. Pharmacopoeia USP291procedure (www.pharmacopeia.cn/v29240/usp29nf24s0_ris1s126.html). Testcompound (final concentration 100 μM) was incubated in duplicate in theappropriate fluid for 2 hours at 37° C. The samples were quenched with200 μl cold acetonitrile, vortexed for 30 seconds and then centrifugedat 16,100 g for 10 min. The supernatants were analyzed by HPLC on a C-18column with UV detection at 252 nm. The time 0 samples were prepared byadding SGF or SIF fluid to the quenching solvent followed by the testcompound. Stability of the compound was determined by peak area the testcompound after incubation and calculated as percent of the peak areaobserved at time zero. Results are provided in Table 2 below.

Stability in Fresh Whole Blood:

Stability of test compounds were determined in fresh human whole bloodwith K₂EDTA as the anticoagulant (stored refrigerated at 2-8° C. andused within 7 days of receipt). The experiment was conducted with threereplicates for each time point. Whole blood, pre-incubated at 37° C. for10-15 minutes, was fortified with a solution of test compound for afinal concentration of 0.5 μM and mixed for 30 sec. At intervals (0,0.5, 1 and 2 hr), three 50-4 aliquots were combined with 200 μL (each)of an ice-cold solution of the internal standard (carbutamide 500 ng/mLin acetonitrile). The samples were vortexed for 30 sec and thencentrifuged at 16,100 g for 5 min. The supernatant was analyzed byLC-MS/MS. The MS peak area ratio of the test compound versus theinternal standard was calculated and percent unchanged test compound wascalculated for each time point using this ratio. Results are provided inTable 2 below.

The stability in mouse blood was determined on ice at 0, 0.5 and 1 hr asabove. Results are provided in Table 2 below.

Stability in Liver and Intestinal Subcellular Fractions:

Stability of test compounds were determined in subcellular fractions(microsomes and S9) of human liver and intestine in duplicate for eachmatrix. Pooled liver and intestinal microsomal, intestinal and liver S9proteins (1.0 mg/mL), suspended in incubation buffer (100 mM potassiumphosphate, pH 7.4, mM MgCl₂, and 0.1 mM EDTA), were preincubated for 5min at 37° C. with 10 μM of a test compound from a 10 mM stock solutionin DMSO (final DMSO concentration was 0.1%); the reaction was initiatedby the addition of NADPH (3 mM final concentration). At specific times(0 and 60 min), 0.1 mL samples were taken and the reaction terminated bythe addition of 4 volumes of stop solution (acetonitrile with 500 ng/mLcarbutamide as an internal standard). The samples were vortexed for 30sec and then centrifuged at 16,000 g for 10 min. 100 μL of supernatantswere transferred to 96 deep-well plates preloaded with 100 μL distilledwater and analyzed after mixing by LC-MS/MS. The MS peak area ratio ofthe test compound versus the internal standard was calculated andpercent unchanged test compound over 60 minutes was calculated usingthis ratio. Results are shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Stability Cells Compound 1a Compound 1b SGF 99 99 SIF 99 101WB_Human (37° C.; 2 hr) 101 103 WB_Mouse (ice; 1 hr) 94 96 WB_Rat (ice;1 hr) 105 96 HLM (1 hr) 100 96 HIM (1 hr) 107 102 HLS9 (1 hr) 111 112HIS9 (1 hr) 106 104

Example 4 Metabolism Assays

Assay for the Release of Active Metabolite in Huh-7 Cells.

Huh-7 cells were plated in 1 mL culture medium (DMEM, containingglucose, L-glutamine and sodium pyruvate, 10% FBS, 100 IU/mL penicillin,100 μg/mL streptomycin, 2 mM GlutaMAX, 1% MEM non-essential amino acids)at the concentration 0.8, 0.4 and 0.2 million cells per well on 6 wellplates for 24, 48 and 72 hr treatment, respectively. Plated cells wereincubated overnight at 37° C. in an incubator.

The following morning test compound was diluted to 20 μM from a stocksolution in DMSO in fresh culture medium pre-warmed to 37° C. and 1 mLof the solution/well was added to cells. A final medium volume per wellwas 2.0 mL, test compound concentration in well was 10 μM and final DMSOconcentration was 0.1%.

After 24, 48 or 72 hr, the medium was carefully removed and cellmonolayers were washed twice with 2 mL ice-cold PBS per well. Followingthe last wash, all PBS was carefully removed and 1.0 mL of extractionsolution (ice-cold 70% methanol) added. The plate was tightly coveredwith Parafilm, plastic plate cover and Parafilm again and anintracellular content was extracted at −20° C. for 24 hr.

After 24 hr extracts were transferred into polypropylene microfuge tubesand dry on a refrigerated centrivap concentrator. Dry residues werereconstituted in 250 μL of HPLC-grade water and centrifuged at 16,000×gfor 10 min. Aliquots (100 μL each) of the supernatants were transferredinto a 96 well plate and internal standard (4 ng/mL final concentration)was added as the internal standard (IS) for LC-MS/MS analysis.

Abbreviations:

FHH=fresh human hepatocytes; Ms=Mouse; MsH=Mouse hepatocyte.

Assay for the Release of Active Metabolite in Primary Hepatocytes:

Plates of fresh human and mouse hepatocytes were obtained on ice. Themedium was removed and replaced with hepatocyte culture medium(William's E supplemented with penicillin-streptomycin, 1% L-glutamine,1% insulin-transferrin-selenium and 0.1 μM Dexamethasone (Invitrogen) orwith Invitro GRO HI medium complemented with Torpedo antibiotics(Celsis)). Cells were left overnight in an incubator at 37° C. toacclimatize to culture and the medium.

Hepatocyte incubations were conducted at a final volume of 0.5 mLhepatocyte culture medium/well (0.8 million cells/well for human and 0.5million cells/well for mouse; 12 well plate no overlay, collagen coat).Culture medium from overnight incubation of cells was removed andreplaced with fresh medium, pre-warmed to 37° C., containing 10 μM oftest compound from a stock solution in DMSO (final DMSO concentrationwas 0.1%). At each specific time point, incubation medium was removedand cell monolayers were carefully washed two times with ice-cold PBS.Following the last wash, all PBS was carefully removed and 1.0 mL ofextraction solution (ice-cold 70% methanol/30% water) added. Cells werescraped off and suspended in the extraction solution, transferred to 2mL polypropylene microfuge tubes and intracellular contents extractedovernight at −20° C.

After the overnight treatment the cellular extracts were prepared bycentrifugation at 16,000×g for 10 min to remove cellular debris. Theremaining sample was then dried using a refrigerated centrivapconcentrator. Dry extracts were reconstituted in 1000 μL of HPLC-gradewater and centrifuged at 16,000×g for 10 min. Aliquots (100 μL each) ofthe supernatant were transferred into a 96 well plate and internalstandard (4 ng/mL final concentration) was added as the internalstandard (IS) for LC-MS/MS analysis.

The incubation time points were 6, 24 and 48 hours for human hepatocytesand 1, 4, 8, 12 and 24 hours for mouse hepatocytes. Results are providedin Table 3 below.

TABLE 3 Release of Active Metabolite in Hepatocytes Cells Compound 1aCompound 1b Huh-7 TP C_(max) (pmol/mill cells) 249 40 Huh-7 TP (24 hr)31 6 Huh-7 TP (48 hr) 118 18 Huh-7 TP (72 hr) 249 40 FHH TP AUC (pmol ·hr/mill cells) 2177 470 FHH TP C_(max) (pmol/mill cells) 115 39 FHH TP(6 hr) BLD^(a) BLD^(a) FHH TP (24 hr) 38 BLD^(a) FHH TP (48 hr) 115 39MsH AUC (pmol · hr/mill cells) 11,095 896 MsH C_(max) (pmol/mill cells)299 45 ^(a)BLD = below limit of detection

Example 5 Plasma and Liver Pharmacokinetics Following a Single Oral DoseIn CD-1 Mice

Abbreviations:

Ms=Mouse; 2′-MeG=2′-methylguanosine; 2′-MeGTP=2′-methylguanosinetriphosphate.

A single oral dose of Compound 1 at 25 mg/kg in PEG 200 (dose volume 5mL/kg) was administered to nine CD-1 male mice. Five untreated animalswere used for the collection of control plasma and liver. The experimentwas conducted on three separate occasions. Terminal plasma and liversamples were collected from three animals per time point at 4, 12 and 24hours post dose (on two occasions) and additionally 1 hour post dose onthird occasion. Liver specimens were collected from all animalsimmediately after the incision. Freezing forceps stored in liquidnitrogen were used to freeze the liver before excision.

Plasma samples were analyzed for 2′-methylguanosine (2′-MeG) byLC-MS/MS. The internal standard (IS) was 2′-MeG-D3. For proteinprecipitation and extraction, each plasma sample (50 μL) was treatedwith 500 μL of 0.2% formic acid in acetonitrile and 20 μL of theinternal standard working solution. After vortexing and centrifugation,500 μL of the sample extracts were transferred to a new plate, driedunder N₂ at ˜28° C. and reconstituted with 75 μL of 0.2% FA in water.The extracts were chromatographed on an Aquasil C18 column using agradient system of 0.2% formic acid in water and acetonitrile. Theanalytes were detected and quantified by tandem mass spectrometry inpositive ion mode on an MDS Sciex API5000 equipped with a TurboIonspray® interface. The calibration range was 0.500 (LLOQ) to 200 ng/mLin mouse plasma. The corresponding range for molar units is 1.68 to 673pmol/mL.

Liver samples were analyzed for the active species 2′-methylguanosinetriphosphate (2′-MeGTP) by LC-MS/MS. 2′-MeGTP levels were assayed byhomogenizing (on ice) a known weight of mouse liver with 4× volume of0.95 M trichloroacetic acid (TCA). Internal standard solution was addedto the homogenate followed by neutralization with 20% ammonium hydroxidesolution and addition of 500 μL 1% formic acid. The tissue samples wereextracted by weak anion exchange solid phase extraction (SPE). Postextraction, the eluates were evaporated under nitrogen, followed byreconstitution before injection onto the LC-MS/MS system. The sampleswere chromatographed on a Luna NH₂ column using a gradient system ofammonium acetate (1 mM to 20 mM and pH 8.0 to pH 10.0) in water andacetonitrile (70:30). The analyte was detected and quantified by tandemmass spectrometry in positive ion mode on an API4000 equipped with aTurbo Ionspray® interface. The calibration range was 10 to 10000 pmol/mLin mouse liver homogenate (50 to 50000 pmol/g of mouse liver).

Results are provided in Table 4 below.

TABLE 4 Mouse plasma and liver pharmacokinetic parameters Com- Com-Cells pound 1a pound 1b Ms Plasma 2′-MeG C_(max) (pmol/mL at 1 μmol/kg)4.4 1.7 Ms Plasma 2′-MeG AUC (pmol · hr/mL at 1 μmol/kg) 67 21 Ms Liver2′-MeGTP C_(max) (pmol/g at 1 μmol/kg) 680 210 Ms Liver 2′-MeGTP AUC(pmol · hr/g at 1 μmol/kg) 9400 2500

Example 6 Liver Pharmacokinetics Following a Single Oral Dose in Miceand Monkeys

Abbreviations:

Ms=Mouse; Mo=Monkey; 2′-MeG=2′-methylguanosine;2′-MeGTP=2′-methylguanosine triphosphate; AUC=area under curve.

For each compound, a single oral dose at 25 mg/kg in PEG 200 (dosevolume 5 mL/kg) was administered to [CD-1] mice. Untreated animals wereused for the collection of control liver. Terminal liver and plasmasamples were collected from three animals per time point at 4, 12 and 24hours post dose and additionally at 1 hour post dose in one occasion ofCompound 1 (see Example 5). Liver specimens were collected from allanimals immediately after the incision. Freezing forceps stored inliquid nitrogen were used to freeze the liver before excision.

For each compound, a single oral dose at 50 (Compound C), 25 (CompoundA) or 10 mg/kg (Compounds 1a, B and D) in PEG 200 (dose volume 3 mL/kg)was administered to [cynomolgus] monkeys. Untreated animals were usedfor the collection of control liver. Plasma samples were collected at 1,2, 4, 6, 8, 12 and 24 hours for all compounds and additionally at 0.5hour (Compounds 1a, B and D), 3 and 10 hours (Compound C), and 32 and 48hours post dose for Compound A. Terminal liver samples were collectedfrom three animals per time point at 6, 12 and 24 hours post dose forall compounds and additionally at 2 hours (Compounds 1a, B and D), 3hours (Compound C) and 32 and 48 hours post dose for Compound A. Liverspecimens were collected from all animals immediately after theincision. Freezing forceps stored in liquid nitrogen were used to freezethe liver before excision.

Plasma samples were analyzed for the prodrug and 2′-methylguanosine(2′-MeG) or relevant nucleoside by LC-MS/MS. For protein precipitationand extraction, each plasma sample (50 μL) was treated with 500 μL of0.2% formic acid in acetonitrile and 20 μL of an appropriate internalstandard working solution. After vortexing and centrifugation, 500 μL ofthe sample extracts were transferred to a new plate, dried under N₂ at˜28° C. and reconstituted with 75 μL of 0.2% FA in water. The extractswere chromatographed on an Aquasil C18 column using a gradient system of0.2% formic acid in water and acetonitrile. The analytes were detectedand quantified by tandem mass spectrometry in positive ion mode on anMDS Sciex API5000 or an API4000 equipped with a Turbo Ionspray®interface. The calibration range was 0.500 (LLOQ) to 200 ng/mL in mouseplasma. The corresponding range for molar units is 1.68 to 673 pmol/mL.

Liver samples were analyzed for the active species 2′-methylguanosinetriphosphate (2′-MeGTP) or relevant nucleoside triphosphate by LC-MS/MS.The triphosphate levels were assayed by homogenizing (on ice) a knownweight of mouse liver with 4× volume of 0.95 M trichloroacetic acid(TCA). Appropriate internal standard solution was added to thehomogenate followed by neutralization with 20% ammonium hydroxidesolution and addition of 500 μL 1% formic acid. The tissue samples wereextracted by weak anion exchange solid phase extraction (SPE). Postextraction, the eluates were evaporated under nitrogen, followed byreconstitution before injection onto the LC-MS/MS system. The sampleswere chromatographed on a Luna NH₂ column using a gradient system ofammonium acetate (1 mM to 20 mM and pH 8.0 to pH 10.0) in water andacetonitrile (70:30). The analyte was detected and quantified by tandemmass spectrometry in positive ion mode on an API4000 equipped with aTurbo Ionspray® interface. The calibration range was 10 to 10000 pmol/mLin mouse liver homogenate (50 to 50000 pmol/g of mouse liver).

Results are provided in Table 5 and Table 6 below.

TABLE 5 Pharmacokinetics of the prodrugs and nucleosides in plasma andtriphosphate in liver of CD-1 mice Compound 1a^(b) A B C D Dose (mg/kg)25 25 25 25 25 Dose-normalized parameters^(a) Plasma prodrug C_(max)(pmol/mL) 43 ND^(c) ND^(c) ND^(c) ND^(c) T_(max) (hr) 3 ND^(c) ND^(c)ND^(c) ND^(c) AUC₀₋₂₄ (pmol · hr/mL) 340 ND^(c) ND^(c) ND^(c) ND^(c)Plasma nucleoside C_(max) (pmol/mL) 4.4 5.6 4.9 4.10 31 T_(max) (hr) 3 44 12 4 AUC₀₋₂₄ (pmol · hr/mL) 67 50 50 57 320 Nucleoside triphosphate inLiver C_(max) (pmol/g) 680 170 36 19 20 T_(max) (hr) 4 4 4 4 4 AUC₀₋₂₄(pmol · hr/g) 9400 1500 540 290 250 ^(a)The C_(max) and AUC₀₋₂₄ data arenormalized to 1 μmol/kg dose ^(b)Compound 1a was dosed at 25 mg/kg onthree separate occasions (N); the plasma prodrug values are average ofthe data of N = 2 and the plasma nucleoside and liver triphosphatevalues are average of the data of N = 3. ^(c)ND = not determined

TABLE 6 Pharmacokinetics of the prodrugs and nucleosides in plasma andtriphosphate in liver of Cynomolgus monkeys Compound 1a A B C D Dose(mg/kg) 10 25 10 10 50 Dose-normalized parameters^(a) Plasma prodrugC_(max) (pmol/mL) 22 100 0.20 0.32 1.20 T_(max) (hr) 2 2 0.5 6 0.5AUC₀₋₂₄ (pmol · hr/mL) 150 410 0.20 0.98 3.50 Plasma nucleoside C_(max)(pmol/mL) 6.4 8.6 1.5 0.44 9.4 T_(max) (hr) 2 4 8 6 6 AUC₀₋₂₄ (pmol ·hr/mL) 66 79 21 12 150 Nucleoside triphosphate in Liver C_(ma) (pmol/g)310 39 9.2 14 80 T_(max) (hr) 24 12 6 24 6 AUC₀₋₂₄ (pmol · hr/g) 5600570 170 190 1100 ^(a)The C_(max) and AUC₀₋₂₄ data are normalized to 1μmol/kg dose

Compound A is6-ethoxy-9-((4aR,6R,7R,7aR)-7-fluoro-2-isopropoxy-7-methyl-2-oxo-tetrahydro-2,5-furo[3,2-d][1,3,2]dioxaphosphinin-6-yl)-9H-purin-2-ylamine (PSI-938; U.S. Pat. No. 8,173,621 B2). Compound B is L-Alanine,N-(2′-C-methyl-6-O-methyl-P-1-naphthalenyl-5′-guanylyl)-,2,2-dimethylpropyl ester (INX-189). Compound C is 2′-C-methyl-guanosine,5′-[2-[(3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-1-oxopropyl)thio]ethylN-(phenylmethyl)phosphoramidate] (IDX 184; U.S. Pat. No. 7,951,789 B2).Compound D is L-Alanine,N—((P(S),2′R)-2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro-2′-methyl-P-phenyl-5′-uridylyl)-,1-methylethyl ester (GS-7977; U.S. Pat. No. 7,964,580 B2).

All publications and patent, applications cited in this specificationare herein incorporated by reference as if each individual publicationor patent application were specifically and individually indicated to beincorporated by reference. While the claimed subject matter has beendescribed in terms of various embodiments, the skilled artisan willappreciate that various modifications, substitutions, omissions, andchanges may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the subject matter limitedsolely by the scope of the following claims, including equivalentsthereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A compound of Formula I:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, stereoisomeric form,tautomeric form or polymorphic form thereof, wherein R¹ is lower alkylor hydrogen, and R² is lower alkyl.
 2. The compound of claim 1 whereinR¹ is hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl ort-butyl.
 3. The compound of claim 1 wherein R² is methyl, ethyl,n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, 2-butyl, cyclopentyl,cyclobutyl, cyclopropyl or t-butyl.
 4. The compound of claim 1 accordingto formula Ia or Ib:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, stereoisomeric form,tautomeric form or polymorphic form thereof.
 5. The compound of claim 1according to formula II:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, stereoisomeric form,tautomeric form or polymorphic form thereof.
 6. The compound of claim 1according to formula IIa or IIb:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, stereoisomeric form,tautomeric form or polymorphic form thereof.
 7. A pharmaceuticalcomposition comprising the compound of claim 1 and a pharmaceuticallyacceptable excipient, carrier or diluent.
 8. The pharmaceuticalcomposition of claim 7, wherein the composition is an oral formulation.9. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound of claim 5 and apharmaceutically acceptable excipient, carrier or diluent.
 10. Thepharmaceutical composition of claim 9, wherein the composition is anoral formulation.
 11. A method for the treatment of a host infected witha hepatitis C virus, comprising the administration of an effectivetreatment amount of a compound of claim
 1. 12. The method of claim 11,wherein the host is a human.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein saidadministration directs a substantial amount of said compound orpharmaceutically acceptable salt or stereoisomer thereof to the liver ofsaid host.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein said compound isadministered in combination or alternation with a second anti-viralagent optionally selected from the group consisting of an interferon, aribavirin, an interleukin, a NS3 protease inhibitor, a cysteine proteaseinhibitor, a phenanthrenequinone, a thiazolidine derivative, athiazolidine, a benzanilide, a helicase inhibitor, a polymeraseinhibitor, a nucleotide analogue, a gliotoxin, a cerulenin, an antisensephosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotide, an inhibitor of IRES-dependenttranslation, and a ribozyme.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein thesecond agent is selected from the group consisting of telaprevir,bocepravir, pegylated interferon alpha 2a, interferon alphacon-1,natural interferon, albuferon, interferon beta-1a, omega interferon,interferon alpha, interferon gamma, interferon tau, interferon delta andinterferon γ-1b.
 16. A method for the treatment of a host infected witha hepatitis C virus, comprising the administration of an effectivetreatment amount of a compound of claim
 5. 17. The method of claim 16,wherein the host is a human.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein saidadministration directs a substantial amount of said compound orpharmaceutically acceptable salt or stereoisomer thereof to the liver ofsaid host.
 19. The method of claim 16, wherein said compound isadministered in combination or alternation with a second anti-viralagent optionally selected from the group consisting of an interferon, aribavirin, an interleukin, a NS3 protease inhibitor, a cysteine proteaseinhibitor, a phenanthrenequinone, a thiazolidine derivative, athiazolidine, a benzanilide, a helicase inhibitor, a polymeraseinhibitor, a nucleotide analogue, a gliotoxin, a cerulenin, an antisensephosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotide, an inhibitor of IRES-dependenttranslation, and a ribozyme.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein thesecond agent is selected from the group consisting of telaprevir,bocepravir, pegylated interferon alpha 2a, interferon alphacon-1,natural interferon, albuferon, interferon beta-1a, omega interferon,interferon alpha, interferon gamma, interferon tau, interferon delta andinterferon γ-1b.